BASE CAMP WANAKA WITH
MELLING ARCHITECTS
Dennis and Janet Hunt are Wellingtonians, but Wanaka holds a special place in their hearts. Janet says, “I wake up every morning and I look out the window and I think this is incredible. Being able to see all that beautiful land and the mountains and it feels stunning at night time - you can't see another life, you know? It's pretty amazing.”
The tie that binds them to Central Otago is family. Janet’s brother John bought land and built the River Run Lodge in 1996, and their family had holidayed in the deep south since Janet and her 4 siblings were youngsters. She has fond memories of Christmases in the South Island as a child, and when Dennis came along, he joined in the family fun. Dennis and Janet have been married now for 40 years and have four grown-up kids of their own. The Southern Lakes and their new home continue to draw together this close-knit family, which was a key element in the architect’s brief that this home should be able to “switch between being a cosy dwelling to becoming the anchor point for visiting family who can camp around the edges of the building.”
Janet is a teacher and loves children and Dennis is an engineer by trade; their lifelong vocations not only influenced the end result of the build, but also meant the process was interesting to them both. They were both closely involved with the build, working with the architect and Mark on initial concepts and adapting small things along the way. The team used the Co-Construct app to keep all parties up to date along the way.
The home has contrasting features such as polished concrete and warm and ply surfaces, which give it a contemporary yet homely feel. The home is deliberately designed to feel cosy and warm. Features such as underfloor heating and the last-minute addition of a fireplace add to the feeling of comfort and style. Clever architectural design by David Melling made the most of the smaller spaces and Mark and his team crafted them to perfection.
Dennis puts the success of the project down to the strong relationships. He says, “I had been involved in a lot of projects in remote places, but it was all about developing relationships really. We had a friend down here who referred us to Mark, then we took the time to develop a relationship to satisfy ourselves that he's the sort of guy that we'd like to build a house.” During the build Dennis also got to know the subcontractors and developed trust in the full team along the way. The importance of family links was also evident. Janet notes, “My father was a builder and had his own construction company. Mark reminded me a bit of Dad; same sort of energy and enthusiasm for wood.”.
Janet and Dennis consider themselves lucky to have also purchased a piece of paradise. They are savouring all the new appliances and modern features and the peace and quiet. The house comes with a rumpus room for the grand kids, a table that Dennis built with his own hands and room to add on as the family extends. Dennis says, “As an engineer I have an eye for details; watching Mark and his team bring incredibly detailed and intricate architectural plans to life was very satisfying. The build process was excellent. Couldn't be better. It was pleasurable, but once again it all came down to having a good relationship.”
For M A Building, working with Dennis and Janet to create their dream home has been an immensely satisfying and enjoyable project. The end result is stunning and Dennis and Janet have a beautiful home in which to continue their family fun.