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‘Standout’ Wānaka home bucks the size trend - and still wins in architectural awards

Friday, 22 May 2026

Garden House by Sarah Ritchie in Wānaka was one of 27 projects recognised in the latest Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architect 2026 Southern regional awards.
Garden House by Sarah Ritchie in Wānaka was one of 27 projects recognised in the latest Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architect 2026 Southern regional awards.

Garden House in Wānaka was designed for a family of four, and its compact 111m² footprint has been recognised as an asset to it, after it won in the housing category of the latest Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects awards for the southern region.

The average size of a standalone new build home in New Zealand is about 180m², according to Stats NZ figures.

The project by Wānaka-based architect Sarah Ritchie also won a Resene Colour award for its “dark and moody” palette.

It was one of 11 homes from the greater Wānaka/Queenstown area recognised in the housing category, and one of 27 architectural projects deemed the best across Otago.

Judging Garden House as a Resene Colour Award winner, judges said its dark and moody palette “quietly recedes into the background, allowing views through each opening to become the focus”.
Judging Garden House as a Resene Colour Award winner, judges said its dark and moody palette “quietly recedes into the background, allowing views through each opening to become the focus”.

The project was praised by the jury for its thoughtful use of recycled and repurposed materials. The high performance home also has triple glazing and high levels of insulation.

Two Sheds, an Arrowtown project by RTA Studio, was also recognised in the awards. The second shed is designed as a separate family zone, with bedrooms and a generous lounge linked back to the main building through the courtyard.
Two Sheds, an Arrowtown project by RTA Studio, was also recognised in the awards. The second shed is designed as a separate family zone, with bedrooms and a generous lounge linked back to the main building through the courtyard.

“A clear whakapapa (material lineage) is shown through pine plywood linings, recycled hardwood cladding, and the reuse of leftover materials for joinery and garden structures. High insulation, timber joinery, and triple glazing support an efficient pūnaha pūngao (energy system),” the jury members said.

“Gardens and greenhouse spaces are closely connected to daily life, strengthening the mauri (life force) of the home.”

An Arrowtown winner was Two Sheds by RTA Studios, in which the “familiar form of rural corrugated iron sheds” is set against the dramatic central Otago landscape.

Bramble Close House in Wānaka by Condon Scott Architects was judged a “carefully considered response to its elevated Wānaka site, using a series of stepped forms to work with the land while making the most of the views”.
Bramble Close House in Wānaka by Condon Scott Architects was judged a “carefully considered response to its elevated Wānaka site, using a series of stepped forms to work with the land while making the most of the views”.

Design inside is described as “ambitious and well organised”.

“The main volume is centred around a large circular fireplace, while oversized timber beams express the roof structure. A flexible indoor-outdoor space opens on two sides, connecting the interior to the courtyard and pool.

“The second shed is designed as a separate family zone, with bedrooms and a generous lounge linked back to the main building through the courtyard.”

Condon Scott Architects’ Bramble Close House project in Wānaka was also recognised, with its many changes in floor levels, a response to the elevated site.

“Concrete and plaster are used with precision, creating a calm setting for everyday living and the owners’ art collection,” the jury noted. “Subtle changes in floor levels create a balance between open spaces and more private areas. The result is a highly resolved home that responds confidently to both the site and the brief while reinforcing its alpine setting.”

Awards were also made in housing “alterations and additions” and “small project architecture”, as well as heritage, hospitality, commercial, education and enduring architecture categories.

The Ayrburn Precinct by SA Studio was a double winner, claiming awards in the heritage and hospitality categories for its adaptation of Ayrburn Homestead. The jury noted how the architects carefully balanced heritage conservation with contemporary use, allowing the building to become a restaurant while keeping its strong historic character.

Cromwell home Bragato Way Residence, by Sharlene Browning, was recognised in the “small project architecture” category. “On a tightly constrained urban site, light-filled and highly liveable spaces are carefully balanced with practical work-from-home areas. The planning is efficient and well organised, creating a strong sense of generosity through natural light, proportion, and connection to outdoor space.”
Cromwell home Bragato Way Residence, by Sharlene Browning, was recognised in the “small project architecture” category. “On a tightly constrained urban site, light-filled and highly liveable spaces are carefully balanced with practical work-from-home areas. The planning is efficient and well organised, creating a strong sense of generosity through natural light, proportion, and connection to outdoor space.”

Jury convenor and architect Andrea O’Connor of Oakley Gray Architects said the work quality of entrants this year was exceptionally high, “showcasing meticulous attention to detail, technical precision, and thoughtful design”.

“This response underscores the intricate relationship between architecture and individual experience, illustrating how our surroundings shape our perceptions and interactions with daily life.”

O’Connor was joined on the jury by Lianne Cox (Studio of Pacific Architecture), Regan Hall (McCoy and Wixon Architects) and Ben Hudson (Ben Hudson Architects).

The winners received their awards at an event at the Regent Theatre in Dunedin on Friday night.

Full list of 2026 southern regional winners:

Housing

Housing – Alterations and Additions

Interior Architecture

Commercial Architecture

Education

Enduring Architecture

Heritage

Hospitality

Small Project Architecture