This Holiday Home Was Inspired By New Zealand’s Traditional Mining Cottages

Founded in 1999 by one Richard Naish, RTA Studio is an Auckland-based architecture firm that’s amassed more than 100 local and international awards in its roughly two-decade existence, including the New Zealand Architecture Medal and the World Architecture Festival’s coveted Home of the Year award. In addition to a focus on sustainable, low-environmental-impact construction, RTA also strives to draw aesthetic inspiration from the local region’s history and culture.

This trait is on full display in RTA Studio’s Cardrona Hut, a 775-square-foot holiday home set in the mountains of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. The structure’s outward appearance draws from New Zealand’s traditional miner’s cottages, tramping huts, and agricultural barns, with a long rectangular shape divided by a covered central courtyard. The materials used to build the contemporary cabin are also locally-sourced, mainly consisting of corrugated iron, wood panels, and local stone. This stone-lined outdoor area separates the building’s two main sections; the living area; and the sleeping area. Exposed beams and a timber-clad interior make for a modern living space, while the building’s bevy of massive windows affords picturesque views of the surrounding hillside. To see more of this award-winning project, you can check out RTA Studio’s website linked below.

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