Bunker House is a predominantly underground home located within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, at the base of Mt John observatory. Almost invisible from land or air, the home is embedded within a gently sloping hillside, with a tussock-covered roof and concrete form allowing it to blend into the vast landscape while responding to Council’s strict requirements for zero light spill.

Designed as a remote retreat for our pilot client, the straightforward plan simplifies the complexities of underground construction and extensive waterproofing systems. Ensuite bedrooms flank the central living spaces, with service areas to the rear. A second stage will connect the house to a proposed aircraft hangar via an underground tunnel, with the future main entrance currently purposed as a third bedroom.

Precast and in-situ concrete construction – also exposed throughout the interior – was both a practical and architectural response to the remote site, providing durability, thermal mass and a robust character. A fully glazed north-west façade maximises daylight and the expansive views, while a curved concrete overhang provides weather protection and controls upward light spill. Clerestory glazing draws natural light into the buried spaces below.

The restrained design reflects the scale and stillness of the surrounding landscape, prioritising permanence, simplicity and environmental integration.

Photography by Simon Devitt + HOME Magazine