Contemporary Country – A bold and unequivocal statement in wood

If you have been to the Queenstown waterfront in New Zealand, you will likely remember it for the stunning beauty and scale of the surrounding landscape, the majestic TSS Earnslaw tied up at St Omer Wharf and the outrageous cost of the coffee at some of the nearby cafes. And now, there is a fresh and rather attractive addition to this mountain maritime scene.

It is increasingly evident that wooden window frames – whether inside a thin skin of aluminium or au naturel – are the best energy-efficient choice.

John Shaw is a protégé of woodworking legend James Krenov, and one of New Zealand’s most accomplished studio furniture designers. He talks to Michael Dover.

There were two special aspects to the brief for this award-winning restoration – the clients both worked from home and one was wheelchair bound.

Blending into a sloping hinterland environment can be a challenge for any building designer, particularly when it is in a forest. Then there are the required ‘future considerate’ materials to help support the structure’s ongoing environmental performance.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the noun folly as: foolishness, lacking good sense, unwise conduct; a foolish act, idea or practice. And in the great tradition of architectural follies, this award winner of other things, other times and other possibilities.

The Wrap House pushes the boundaries of possibility for the most humble of architectural commissions – the domestic rear extension. It is formally spectacular yet creates calm spaces with a refined palette of materials, scrupulously detailed and crafted.