St Arnaud sits at the edge of Nelson Lakes National Park — beech forest, clear water, a landscape that operates entirely on its own terms. Building here means understanding the environment before you understand the brief. The weather is serious. The bush is protected. The site demands respect, and the architecture had to earn its place within it.

Ken Robinson Architects designed a home that reads lightly against the bush — clean contemporary lines, a minimalist form that doesn't compete with the landscape surrounding it. Expansive glazing brings the native canopy into every room. The open-plan living spaces unfold toward the outdoors with the kind of easy sequence that only works when the plan has been properly considered from the start.

The alpine environment shapes every material decision. Cladding, joinery, fixings — everything was specified for longevity in a climate that tests buildings harder than most. High-quality finishes were applied with the same care as the structural decisions. In a remote location, there is no returning to fix something done carelessly the first time.

The kitchen became a project within the project — a space precise enough in its design and execution to be recognised separately. The judges at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year agreed - Awarding a Gold Medal and the Kitchen Lifestyle Award.