Tucked into the quiet rhythm of Wānaka’s landscape, the S.K.I. House is more than a retreat. It is a multi-generational legacy, crafted with care, shaped by a deep knowledge of place, and grounded in enduring materials.
Designed by Roberts Gray Architects and built by Level Construction, the home reimagines the alpine retreat through connection – to land, to family and to the way a house is lived in over time. For OBJKT, it was a privilege to deliver the bespoke joinery throughout, helping shape an interior language that feels warm, grounded and lasting.
After decades of family connection to the site, the brief was never simply to build a house. It was to create a place that could hold another era of family life in Wānaka — one that felt both protective and open, private yet generous. Roberts Gray describes the home as an intergenerational sanctuary, organised around courtyard living and carefully shaped responses to climate, outlook and privacy
Our joinery work runs throughout the entire home, shaping its tone, texture and rhythm. More than a collection of individual elements, it forms part of a cohesive interior response — one that works with the architecture rather than competing with it.
American White Oak joinery features throughout the home, with panels finished in Osmo oil to enhance and preserve the natural grain. Solid 80mm American oak worktops bring warmth and durability, while Silver Roots marble bench-tops and splash-backs create contrast in the kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry strengthens the vertical rhythm of the interiors and reinforces the home’s sense of order.
The detailing is where the craftsmanship reveals itself most clearly. OBJKT’s project page notes that the solid oak handles were crafted in-house and routered directly into the cabinetry fronts, creating a seamless look that conceals fixings and sharpens the overall finish.
What makes the S.K.I. House especially compelling is the way the joinery feels built in, not added on.
Bespoke internal doors with matching cedar linings sit cleanly within the home’s wider material palette. Concealed tracks and pivot systems help maintain uninterrupted lines and visual quiet. OBJKT’s project page also highlights a solid timber front door with charred sugi lining, while Sugi’s own project feature notes the use of Japanese cedar wall panelling and charred yakisugi in key interior spaces, adding depth, texture and continuity to the home’s wider material story. Even where the detailing is technically complex, the finished result feels effortless.
At the centre of the home, the staircase becomes both a practical element and an architectural statement. OBJKT describes the solid oak treads and timber balustrading as appearing to float from the ceiling, creating a dramatic centrepiece that blends structural innovation with fine joinery.
The interior palette of oak, cedar, stone and charred timber gives the house a layered and lasting quality — robust yet refined. Every material has been chosen not only for how it looks, but for how it will perform, age and be lived with over time.
Nothing is overworked. Nothing feels decorative for the sake of it. The home is generous without excess, and expressive without needing to be loud.
That same sense of restraint sits at the heart of the joinery. For us, good craftsmanship is often found in the quieter decisions: the line of a door, the weight of a worktop, the feel of a handle in the hand, the way storage disappears into the architecture rather than interrupting it.
These are the details that bring warmth, proportion and material clarity to a home — and the details that give it longevity
For us, bespoke joinery should do more than solve practical requirements. It should support the architecture, simplify daily use and bring clarity to the way a home feels and functions.
That is what stands out in the S.K.I. House. The joinery is not there to compete for attention. It belongs to the architecture completely. ArchiPro describes the result as joinery that integrates seamlessly within the architecture — refined, purposeful and built to endure.
In a home designed for generations of family life, that matters. Longevity is not only about durable materials. It is also about making thoughtful decisions around detailing, consistency and how each element will live over time.
The S.K.I. House has been recognised by some of the most respected voices in architecture and design. Roberts Gray states that the project received both the 2024 NZIA National Architecture Award and the 2024 NZIA Southern Architecture Award, and your EDM also references The Local Project feature and wider shortlist recognition.
That recognition matters, but what stands out most is why the project resonates. It is not because it chases attention. It is because every decision feels resolved — from the broader architectural idea through to the finest joinery detail.
We are proud to have played a part in bringing that vision to life.
It shows that a great home does not need to dominate a site to leave a lasting impression. With strong, honest materials and a deep respect for place, this is a house that will quietly age with grace.
For OBJKT, it reflects much of what we value most in our work: quality without compromise, thoughtful detailing, and bespoke joinery that supports architecture and everyday living in equal measure. Those values also align closely with OBJKT’s published brand position around premium craftsmanship, built-to-last quality and bespoke interiors for homes and commercial spaces.
Crafted with care. Designed to belong. Built for the long view.
