Deep in the isolated Cardrona Valley, an assemblage of three eco-villas constitutes the first stage of the Abodo Alpine Village. The houses assimilate a celebration of natural materials blending seamlessly with the surrounding dry hills, while still holding true to the aesthetic and design objectives of the alpine cabin.
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Built: 2023
Images: Brad WillettsCommissioned by Abodo timber and designed in collaboration with FLiP Homes, the Cardrona Alpine Village sets precedent for healthy, high performance, yet affordable homes in one of New Zealand’s harshest climates.
The form and design language of each villa follows the topography of the landscape, while the varied shades of timber cladding lend itself to the golden tussock surrounding the village. Each villa presents a distinctive palette inside and out, with timber interior wall lining and cork floors creating a warm, textural space throughout.
Whilst remaining inkeeping with the traditional New Zealand holiday home or ‘bach’ in form and materiality, the houses utilise passive house detailing to push the building envelope to the highest performance levels, achieving a Homestar 7 rating. In order to align with the project’s affordability goals in an isolated location where access can be difficult, the homes were prefabricated in Christchurch and carefully moved to site by truck.
Project Details
Project Type: Multi-Unit
Year Built: 2023
Location: Cardrona Valley, Otago
Architect: First Light Studio
Builder: FLiP Homes,
Photography: Brad Willetts
