Heart of the Highland

Background:

This project is located at in the South Island and centred around Lake Ōhau Alpine village, a small remote alpine village tucked away off State highway 8. It’s situated between two major destinations, roughly 4 hours south of Christchurch and 3h from Queenstown, while also 20 mins from the developing town of Twizel. It’s characterised by stunning natural features, from the wide expanse of the lake to rugged planes and picturesque mountain tops it creates a sense of awe about the landscape many have grown to love. This feeling of connection to the landscape is deepened through the wide range of outdoor activities that the area supports such as skiing, hiking, boating, windsurfing, and mountain biking. However, this landscape is dramatic in its climate and weather, the name Ōhau can be translated as place of wind, which is representative of the strong northerly and southerly gales that blow up and down the valley. This occurs alongside significant snow and rainfall in the colder months to high temperatures and dry conditions of the warmer months typical of its alpine situation.

Goals:

1. Protection and Conservation
2. Community Connection
3. Elevated Experience