Rock House by Anna-Marie Chin Architects
Projects
Perched high on a hillside at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this home was born from a simple brief: create something bold and unfussy that works with the land and celebrates as much of the exposed rock as possible. The site holds deep personal meaning for its owners, and the setting is quintessential Central Otago: rugged schist and wild thyme, with sweeping views across the Clutha River to the Maniototo plains and the iconic Hawkdun Range beyond.
Designed by Anna-Marie Chin Architects, the response was to tread lightly. A series of box forms floats above the exposed rock face, letting the schist breathe, and dominate. Perched on slender steel poles, the boxes hold a deliberately tenuous relationship with the ground, breaking down the building's scale outside while creating distinct, intimate spaces within. Solid plastered block volumes anchor the composition back to the rock, while lighter linking structures heighten the sense of elevation and draw shafts of light down onto the stone below.
Inside, the plan wraps around the site's feature rocks, framing them alongside the expansive views. At the entry, a glass floor reveals the terrain directly beneath your feet—a striking reminder of the home's tentative, respectful footing on this remarkable landscape.
We were proud to supply lighting for this exceptional project; a home that shows what's possible when great design meets quality materials. Winner — 2024 NZIA Southern Architecture Awards
We sat down with ECC Project Lead, Bridget Dorn to discuss the thinking behind Rock House — exploring the brief, key design decisions, and how lighting brings the home to life.
What was the original brief from the client?
The brief centred on two things: feature lighting that creates a sense of arrival and draws you into the home, and a precise commitment to square fixtures throughout. But the deeper ambition was architectural—the house needed to feel simultaneously rooted and weightless. Sitting on rock, with a glass floor that reveals the stone beneath, the lighting was asked to do something quietly dramatic: washing across the exposed rock to make the geology itself part of the interior experience.
Were there any chllenges we were able to overcome together?
With a home defined by its views, the lighting had to earn its place without ever competing with what lies beyond the glass. Every decision was made with that in mind—the dining pendant is a good example: it defines and frames the table beautifully, but is scaled and positioned so it never interrupts the sightline to the landscape beyond. Working with the view, not against it, was the guiding principle throughout.
How does the lighting support the overall project?
The scheme is built on layers; pendants, downlights, and architectural wash lighting working together to allow the mood of each space to shift entirely depending on the moment. Nothing is fixed or flat. The interplay between pendant light and downlight gives the interior both warmth and precision, and the multiple dimming levels mean the home can move from lively and bright to quiet and atmospheric with ease.
How does the atmosphere differ between day and night?
By day, light and landscape pour in, and the architecture holds its own against a dramatic sky. After dark, the balance shifts entirely inward: the layered lighting scheme comes into its own, the rock beneath the glass floor glows quietly, and the home takes on a different kind of presence—grounded, warm, and considered.
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Products used:
Origami – Vibia
Light Ring Horizontal Polygonal - Henge
Sticks - Vibia
Light Ring Horizontal Polygonal - Henge
Ascoli Floor Lamp - Astro Lighting
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Anna-Marie Chin Architects
Photography: Simon Devitt
ECC Project Lead: Bridget Dorn
