The Dell

Currently on the drawing board.

In the foothills of the Tararuas lies The Dell, an idyllic retreat from inner city life. A bush-hut style dwelling sits lightly on the rough landscape, embracing the traditions of a rustic kiwi bach and blending seamlessly with the surrounding wilderness.

The hut embraces a corrugate roof and board-and-batten cladding, a nod to the beloved DOC huts that dot Aotearoa’s mountain ranges.

Entered through a versatile mud room and bathroom space, the hut opens out into a flexible semi-outdoor kitchen and dining area, with full-height polycarbonate doors extending the living space onto the deck and creating a transient threshold between indoor and outdoor living. At night, closing the doors allows the living space to transform into a cozy entertaining space around the fire.

The main structure is flanked by two bedroom wings housing a bunk room and a master bedroom, with bench seats in the living space expanding the sleeping capacity to ten.

The hut will be completely off grid, complete with solar panels for energy generation and onsite wastewater disposal, allowing it to remain light on the land and preserving the native landscape for generations to come.