Kuranui Lodge
Client Mort and Mel Moon
Project Kuranui Lodge
Location Mamaku, Rotorua
Completed 2007
Situated in the pristine Mamaku ranges off SH5, this unique hunting lodge and event venue is located in the centre of an existing deer farm, in an idyllic bush surrounded valley with a sparkling stream wending it's way around the periphery.
Due to it's relative isolation, one of the requirements for this building was to be energy self sufficient. This was largely driven by the clients who already had many ideas on how to achieve this. Following on from this, a general theme around sustainability was a strong influence on material selection which was also largely driven by the clients, who were very keen to employ a straw bale construction type.
Straw bale construction whilst common in other parts of the world, particularly those areas with low rainfall, is not very common in New Zealand. One characteristic of straw bale houses is a rough, organic aesthetic. Using this concept as a generator the building has a non-geometric plan which in turn creates an interesting natural form.
Housing a grand hall with stone open fireplace, the building also has an intimate dining room, two upstairs bedrooms with ensuite, and ancillary spaces including commercial kitchen, with wood fired hot water. A scavenger system on the septic tank is used to harness gases which powers the generator for electricity.
Separate accommodation is also provided on the hill above the main building in the form of a small hunting lodge, constructed in the same manner as the main building, with two ensuite bedrooms. More of these are planned for the future.
Our clients built this building themselves over a period of two years, including milling all the timber on site and mixing the lime plaster external render by hand. They also commissioned many of the interior design elements which give this building all of it's considerable character.
We were thrilled to help Mort and Mel Moon realise their dream.
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