A timber-clad holiday home by Intuitive Architects frames dramatic views of its mountainous setting in Central Otago, New Zealand.

Based on the wooden cabins that are scattered throughout the nearby township of Wanaka, Avalanche House was designed as a simple retreat.

Two single-storey wings are raised on a concrete plinth, connected by a small glazed corridor.

One contains the living, kitchen and dining spaces and the other the bedrooms.

The living spaces wing looks out towards the mountains and is flanked by two areas of decking at either side which, are accessed via large sliding doors. These double as a means of cross-ventilation in the summer.

"The living area has consciously been oriented north to south to protect outdoor areas from prevailing winds," explained Intuitive Architects.

The home's separation provides greater privacy for the bedroom wing. If the owners wish, one or two of the bedrooms can be leased out, but they are not too isolated from the main house.

Full-height sliding doors into the bedrooms were introduced to allow a greater feeling of connection between spaces. Outdoor access was created at either end of the wing to create a through-route.

Wood dominates both the internal and external finishes of Avalanche House.

Vertical timber planks cladding the exterior and plywood panels lining walls and ceilings to bring a warm, cabin-like feel.

The pitched roof in the living area has been left exposed to create high-ceilinged spaces, centred around a wood-burning stove.

Here, the concrete floor steps down to subtly differentiate it from that of the kitchen and dining area. Two bathrooms sit at either end of the bedroom wing, lined with plywood and white ceramic tile.

Intuitive Architects was founded by Ricky Booth and is based in Wakana in New Zealand as well as Melbourne, Australia.

For more homes in New Zealand built to appreciate the natural landscape, see Herbst Architects' Kawakawa House surrounded by forest, and Andrew Patterson' honeymoon retreat on a rugged coastal site.

Photography is by Simon Devitt.