Introducing The Lindis, New Zealand’s very own slice of heaven...

Set in the majestic Ahuriri Valley in New Zealand’s South Island, the lodge blends so perfectly with the surroundings that you’d be forgiven for missing it.

A five-bedroom masterpiece the site is exposed to an extreme climate ranging from plus 35 degrees in summer to minus 16 degrees in winter with severe winds as a regular occurrence.

Carved over millions of years by the once fierce glacial waters of the Ahuriri River, the valley is now tranquil, yet a comfortingly rugged slice of paradise in New Zealand’s south. And resting almost imperceptibly on the valley floor is The Lindis – the luxury escape making waves at home and abroad.

Indeed, the lodge, designed by Architecture Workshop, was recently recognised for its design excellence at the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Winning the coveted Hotel and Leisure- Completed Buildings category and shortlisted for several categories including the PEFC supported Best Use of Certified Timber and the World Building of the Year, The Linidis was one of the most talked-about projects at the 2019 WAF awards.

The judges described the project as “poetic, inspiring and sensitively considered, with sustainability at its best, from water treatment, heating and cooling to the natural ventilation and insulation.”

For architect Christopher Kelly of the Architecture Workshop, who was in Amsterdam to present to the jury for the awards, the fabulous New Zealand landscape was an inspiration.

‘The lodge effectively forms a new ground; a constructed topography that adds a further fold within the continuity of the existing glacial moraine. The building wraps its guest in a protective cloak, and we hope heightens their capacity to appreciate in wonder the special landscape of the Ahuriri.’

Besting 16 of the best hotels from around the globe, timber was a key feature in the lodge’s design – with responsibly sourced timber featured extensively throughout the hotel.

For PEFC New Zealand’s Jason Ross, The Lindis is one of a growing number of New Zealand projects now using responsibly sourced timber.

‘Building professionals today recognise the power of forest certification and its growing importance in supporting the ongoing health of global forests.’

Inspired by the landscape – the project was one of the most talked-about at the 2019 World Architecture Festival

‘PEFC claims on timber provide architects and builders with the assurance that timber is sourced from sustainable forests, and that timber carries a chain of custody on supply,’ Mr Ross said.

As supporters of the Resene 2020 NZ Wood Timber Design Awards, PEFC New Zealand has recognised that a growing number of entries have embraced PEFC in building projects.

‘Whether it's New Zealand grown or imported from overseas, a number of entries have consciously selected timber materials that originate from forests participating in the PEFC forest certification scheme,’ Mr Ross said.

Photography: Christopher Kelly