Oculus House was designed in response to the clients’ brief for a home that engaged with expansive alpine views while providing a calm, inward-focused living environment. The clients requested a modern, clean-lined home that framed key mountain vistas, and accommodated both daily living and visiting family and guests. The brief also emphasised privacy, intimacy, and a strong connection to the site.
The interiors needed to feel calm, grounding and deeply connected to the surrounding landscape. The finishes called for a refined home that balanced luxury with warmth and simplicity, while maintaining a strong relationship between architecture, interiors and environment. Rather than over-designing the spaces, the intention was to create interiors that felt timeless and quietly resolved – allowing materiality, light and craftsmanship to shape the experience of the home.

The clients sought a modern home that made a statement while sitting respectfully within the landscape. Interiors were approached with restraint, keeping spaces uncluttered and allowing the architecture and setting to remain the focus. A pared-back palette, custom joinery and layered natural textures create warmth, functionality and quiet luxury.
Inspired by the landscape, each bedroom—Anthracite, Russet, Gully and Summit—has a subtle identity through tonal linen, upholstery and material selections, introducing individuality while remaining cohesive within the home.

The design balances outward views with an inward-looking courtyard, centred on a mature Japanese Maple rising through a timber-lined oculus, introducing seasonality and retreat. A faceted, board-formed concrete spine wall anchors the home, providing structure, shelter and spatial definition, while integrating storage and services. A restrained palette of light and dark timbers, polished concrete and cedar cladding complements the structure. Interiors prioritise simplicity and cohesion, with refined custom joinery and a warm material palette of stained timber, linen and honed stone. Tiberio marble in a soft russet tone reflects shifting daylight and connects to the courtyard maple.

The design responds to Queenstown’s exposed climate and prevailing southerlies, informing orientation and massing. A compact footprint and split-level planning place garaging and ancillary spaces discreetly below living areas, reducing bulk, improving efficiency and maintaining privacy. Views are carefully framed to balance outward engagement with inward focus on the courtyard. Interiors are pared back, allowing light, texture and materiality to shape atmosphere. Custom integrated joinery balances function and simplicity, creating calm, cohesive spaces. The result is a refined home grounded in its environment.

Condon Scott Architects in collaboration with interior designer Tara Kerse of Studio Noema.

Image 1 _Entrance
Image 2 _Living Room
Image 3_Passage Way between living and entrance
Image 4_Dining
Image 5_Kitchen
Image 6_Living and Dining
Image 7_ Master Suite
Image 8_ Guest Bedroom
Image 9_Guest Bedroom and ensuite
Image 10_Master Ensuite

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