A stunning alpine Wānaka retreat

Sometimes, you don’t choose a place; it chooses you. A wrong turn, a shift in the weather, an unexpected pull: for interior architect Sophie Bowers and her partner Josh, a chance visit to Wānaka led to a life-changing decision — one that would see them designing and building a home that now feels more like theirs than any place ever has.

The Sydney-based couple hadn’t intended to visit this lakeside spot at all. “We were in Te Anau and it rained for four days straight. On the fifth day, Josh said, ‘Let’s go chase the sunshine,” recalls Sophie. As they crested the hill leading into Wānaka, they were instantly captivated. “We just looked at each other and thought, ‘This place is magic’.”

After checking into an architecturally designed holiday home, a spontaneous meeting with a local buyers’ agent set things in motion. “We gave her our extensive wish list and she told us we were dreaming,” laughs Sophie. But the very next day, serendipity stepped in — a developer the agent had spoken to had land available. Within hours, Sophie and Josh were standing in a paddock looking at plans for a subdivision. “It was a case of right place, right time,” she says. “We knew we had to take the leap.”

Cover image: Clad in Dulux Lichen Colorsteel, the home nestles into its alpine setting. Linked via the entry hall, a gabled pavilion houses an open-plan living area, two guest bedrooms and a mezzanine, while the main suite (bedroom, bathroom and dressing room) is in its own separate volume.

From the outset, the couple wanted to create a home that felt embedded in the landscape. As the founder of Sydney-based interior architecture studio Strutt Studios, Sophie brought a trained eye to the design, although she readily admits she’s her own worst client. “Josh would just watch me agonising over the smallest details; every decision felt so weighty.”

Some decisions came naturally. The overall form of the home remained largely unchanged from their first sketch. The building rises from the land with quiet confidence. Clad in lichen-hued corrugate, its form is agricultural in reference, modern in execution. Three interconnected volumes respond to light, aspect and purpose and, while the gradient dictated levels, the breeze determined openings.

Steel. Concrete. Timber. Honest materials, chosen with longevity in mind, echo the hues and textures of the alpine environment, working with the land rather than against it. “We didn’t want anything that felt foreign. We wanted it to be an extension of what was already around us,” says Sophie.

She worked closely with builder David Owens, who ensured every detail was executed with precision, and collaborated with local architect Ricky Booth, whose expertise contributed to key design considerations.

Inside, the palette is restrained but tactile. “I wanted to bring the tones of Wānaka indoors — muted greens, earthy browns and golden hues that shift with the light,” says Sophie. Oriented strand board walls (usually hidden beneath plaster and paint) are left bare and limewashed to bring out their raw beauty. 

The layout balances communal and private spaces, ensuring the home functions just as well for the two of them as it does when filled with family and friends. At the heart of the design is a central hub that encourages gathering. 

The kitchen is a study in efficiency, reflecting Josh’s approach to cooking: streamlined, considered and with everything in its place. Storage is concealed in a butler’s pantry tucked beneath the stairs, leaving space for preparing and serving around the island bench.

“We wanted it to feel expansive — open, social, and connected,” says Sophie. Stepping down from the kitchen and dining zone, a sunken living area creates a cocooning moment, adding an intimate touch within the lofty volume of this double-height space.

Halfway along this wing, stairs lead up to a mezzanine level that floats above — a quiet retreat that serves as a secondary living area, with its very own balcony that pops out from the gabled roofline to take in a private view of the mountains. “We didn’t expect to use it as much as we do,” admits Sophie. “Over Christmas, it doubled as a dormitory, which worked really well for fitting in all the family.”

The opposite wing houses the main suite, where the mood shifts to something more restful. Here, ceilings lower to create a sense of sanctuary. The ensuite continues the theme of retreat, with a deep, tiled soaking tub and a serene palette.

“I’m a bathtub girl,” says Sophie. “The biggest luxury for me is deciding whether I want an indoor or outdoor bath at the end of the day.”