Te Mira

Blending rugged materials with refined, handcrafted details, Te Mira is a home that feels both grounded and luxurious. The 485m² residence sits on an elevated 1592sqm site within the exclusive Millbrook Resort near Arrowtown, a setting that is rich in regional history, immediately establishing its sense of place. From this vantage point, the home captures sweeping views across the Wakatipu Basin, with its elevated position allowing for a constantly shifting outlook shaped by light, season and weather.

The design takes full advantage of these surroundings. Expansive glazing and carefully considered sightlines ensure the landscape remains a central feature of daily life, while seamless indoor-outdoor flow strengthens the connection between the home and its environment. Outdoor living spaces extend naturally from the interior, creating areas for relaxation and entertaining that feel both sheltered and open to the alpine setting.

Externally, Te Mira is defined by a strong and tactile material palette. Blackened mild steel, schist and cedar combine to create a façade that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in the natural environment. The use of heavily textured board-formed concrete for the garage adds further visual weight, reinforcing the home’s grounded presence. These materials are not simply aesthetic choices, but integral to the architectural language, giving the home texture and a sense of permanence.

The home unfolds across four distinct living areas, including a central living room, breakfast nook, media room and a private loft retreat. This arrangement provides flexibility for both everyday living and entertaining, allowing occupants to gather or retreat as needed.

At the heart of the home is the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, which serves as the primary hub for social interaction. This central area flows directly to an outdoor living and entertaining area, complete with a built-in barbecue and a striking Trendz outdoor fireplace and wood store. From here, views extend towards three ski fields, reinforcing the home’s connection to its wider alpine context.

This architectural statement is the result of the vision and expertise of architects Hamish Muir and Luke Melhop of Mason & Wales, delivered in close collaboration with AJ Saville Builder. The project reflects a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Every element, from the structural materials to the interior finishes, has been carefully considered and executed.

“As a Southlander, I was enthusiastic about the inclusion of Southland Beech in the inside linings of walls, the ceiling and doors,” builder Allister Saville says.

“The home has a flexible layout, including the expansive open plan living with four discrete, separate areas, but its heart is the sensational designer kitchen which features earthy and understated, yet highly stylish, locally manufactured timber cabinetry, along with all the wardrobes and side pieces being imported from Italy,” Allister says.

The attention to detail also impressed Allister, extending to sustainable facets as well. “We endeavoured to make Te Mira as close to passive as we could to mitigate heating costs,” he says.

Luke Melhop of Mason & Wales says their approach was shaped by the site, with the surrounding landscape and lifestyle integral to the design process.

“The plan is an arrangement of linked pavilions, allowing a substantial home to read as a collection of smaller forms,” Luke says.

“At the centre of the home is the primary living pavilion, clad in schist, with a single large, fixed pane of glass at the gable end, framing the long view. Rather than simply maximising glazing, the intention was to establish a controlled proportion, with the landscape beyond serving as a framed, immersive artwork within the interior,” Luke says.

This pavilion concept allows the home to have a hierarchy of public and private spaces, balancing scale and intimacy. While the overall footprint is generous, the composition into smaller forms creates a sense of human scale and articulation. At its core, the design is also highly practical. It includes a primary master suite along with two additional guest suites, one of which functions as a second master and the other positioned above the garage as a loft retreat. This configuration provides flexibility for hosting, enabling multiple families or groups to stay comfortably.

“Increasingly, homes here are designed not just for a single household but for extended stays with friends and family, and the planning responds accordingly. Generous entertaining spaces, strong connections to outdoor living areas and accommodation arrangements all informed the layout,” Luke says.

A notable interior feature is the ceiling, finished in bandsawn Southland Maple Beech from Timberline and treated with Resene’s Natural Wood Oil in ‘Ruataniwha’, highlighting the emphasis on craftsmanship throughout the project.

“The aim was to allow each material to read honestly, celebrating the work of the trades involved, from precision timberwork and steel fabrication, to crafted stone masonry and refined concrete texture and detail,” Luke says.

This craftsmanship extends across the entire build, with contributions from a range of specialist trades. From the kitchen by Masterwood Joinery to the work of Frankton Electrical, Richardson Plumbing and Rhino Waterproofing Systems, each element embodies a commitment to quality and precision.

The home’s layout also responds to modern living patterns, particularly in an alpine resort setting. The inclusion of a second main bedroom suite is a deliberate decision, recognising that properties like this are often used for hosting or short-term stays. With four bedrooms each with an ensuite and a powder room associated with the main living space, the design prioritises privacy and comfort for all occupants.

The bathrooms align with the broader design ethos of the home. They are luxurious and generously scaled, particularly within the master suites, where walk-in wardrobes and ensuites are integrated to form cohesive private spaces. Underfloor heating and heated towel rails ensure comfort, while the material palette reflects the same contemporary alpine aesthetic seen throughout the rest of the residence.

Interior design contributed to this cohesive vision. The palette is minimal yet richly layered, combining bandsawn Southland Beech, textured plaster walls and exposed steel elements to create depth and contrast. A steel datum line runs through the main living space, providing continuity and grounding the softer materials.

“A warm, modern textured palette and interior was requested with the kitchen providing the pivotal centre, so a softly worn countertop was sourced and a generous island created, inviting family gatherings after days exploring, drawing on the region’s spirit of outdoor living,” the designer says.

Capturing natural light and drawing the landscape inward was central to the design approach, resulting in a palette that plays subtly with light while highlighting the home’s architectural details.

“We wanted the residence to deliberately feel strong, to cocoon yet be refined, a serene hub for everyday moments and easy living,” the designer says.

Te Mira exemplifies contemporary alpine living at its finest. Every element, from the rugged yet refined materials to the thoughtful integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, reflects a considered attention to detail.

The home balances scale and intimacy, luxury and practicality, creating a residence that is both visually striking and exceptionally liveable, perfectly suited to its Millbrook setting and surrounding landscape.

Contact details:

A J Saville Builders
03 442 1004
allister@ajsaville.co.nz
www.ajsaville.co.nz