May 12

May 12 A whale of a tale

abode Magazine

Architecture, Expert Advice, Interior Design, Materials, New Build

Inspired by the fluid elegance of a diving whale’s tail, this home, designed and built by Home Factor, merges organic curvature with strong architectural lines.

WORDS Kathy Young PHOTOGRAPHY Brodie Reed

Desejo supplied the Kesya front door pull, the Libra pendant in the foyer, the Waterfall pendants in the kitchen, the Delta feature light in the dining area and the Leaf pendants in the master suite.

Drawing from the surrounding alpine and coastal landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand, this Wānaka home embraces natural materials, flowing movement and contemporary design. “My main inspiration for the home was the tail of a diving whale,” says Priyanka Sareen, director at Home Factor, the boutique development company responsible for this architectural gem. “It was probably a very difficult inspiration that I set for myself, but that’s what my inspiration was.”

Home Factor isn’t your typical property developer. Founded in 2014, they operate on a unique model where they purchase premium sections, design and build distinctive homes, and then sell them either during construction or upon completion.

“At Home Factor, we craft bespoke, architecturally designed homes in New Zealand’s most breathtaking locations. Our passion for exceptional design drives us to perfect every detail – materials, flow and functionality – creating spaces that inspire. What sets us apart is that we never repeat a design,” Priyanka explains. “Every single home that we design and build is inspired by a core theme, and we obsess over every detail of design, materials selection, aspect and flow. Exciting new house and land packages are on the way, set in stunning spots with breathtaking lake views in Wānaka.”

Their process is equally distinctive. Home Factor creates the concepts, floor plans and selects materials, before partnering with engineers and architectural designers who refine the technical drawings without altering the fundamental design. Rather than contracting a single builder, Home Factor maintains direct relationships with subcontractors they’ve worked with for years, ensuring quality control over every aspect of the build.

“We believe this formula works really well for us because we can really focus on the design and quality,” Priyanka says. “Building a home is such an important part of anybody’s life. We want to make sure it is a unique experience. Rohit, the other director of the company, ensures every aspect of the home is extremely well managed, from project management, material sourcing and consents to appointing the right subcontractors. This is to ensure we live and breathe our values of quality and attention to detail.”

The splashback and benchtop in this kitchen are Oyster Honed Marble from CDK Stone. The look perfectly complements the kitchen area of the home, and stays on theme with the natural materials used throughout the property.

Designed by Plumbline and crafted in Italy, the Buddy Wall Mount Mixers with Backplate embody refined simplicity through perfectly balanced proportions. It is available in 12 distinctive finishes. Also from Plumbline is the Starlight Round LED Mirror.

All tiling was completed by Tiling Plus and gives a sleek look and feel to the bathrooms.

Indoors, a tinted concrete floor with underfloor heating sets the foundation. “Even though it’s concrete, it’s been tinted ever so slightly, so it really grounds the space,” Priyanka says. Warm, natural textures of cedar, stone and soft textiles create a sense of refinement and comfort. “The cedar-lined raking ceiling extends the length of the home, drawing the eye upwards and reinforcing the connection to the alpine surroundings. Every space within the home has been designed to flow naturally, ensuring an intuitive and immersive living experience.”

The kitchen presented an interesting challenge. The homeowners initially wanted an all-white interior similar to their other home. “It was a careful process of building trust and expanding the creative vision.”

The collaborative discussions paid off. The finished kitchen features dark cabinetry with reeded glass and
a spectacular oyster stone benchtop – reminiscent of oyster shells and connecting to the ocean theme. “There were only two slabs available in the entire country at the time and we secured both,” she says. “In the end, the homeowners loved it, saying, ‘This is amazing. We never thought we would actually love a dark kitchen.’”

Lighting plays a crucial role throughout the home. “Layered lighting creates a seamless blend of function and ambience, enhancing both everyday living and elegant entertaining. Soft ambient lighting sets the foundation, complemented by precise task lighting that illuminates the key workspace. Accent lighting adds depth, with subtle LED strips highlighting architectural details and natural materials, while statement fixtures double as art, elevating the space’s design. Large windows invite natural light, shifting the atmosphere throughout the day. The result is a perfectly balanced kitchen – warm, inviting and effortlessly sophisticated.”

Creating this unique home presented three significant challenges. First was the roofline, which needed to avoid blocking views from the property behind. “It was imperative that this home wouldn’t be in the line of sight of the rear home, so they could still enjoy the lake and mountain views,” Priyanka says.

The second issue was the central courtyard itself. “An internal courtyard is usually a space surrounded with walls – usually an extended living area with a proper roof. But because this is an open space which has glazing on all four sides, and quite a big open space, just from an engineering and design perspective and the amount of steel to bring that to life – it was a challenge.”

This Wānaka property began as a 2000sqm bare section and the whale tail idea guided the design of the 300sqm house. The homeowners came on board before the build started. As a family, they had been coming to Wa ̄naka every winter since their children were little. “It’s now so special to have a beautiful place to come home to after a busy day up the mountain, as well as now experiencing the long summer days down here,” say the homeowners.

While the home doesn’t have direct lake views, its orientation captures the stunning mountain views instead. The most striking feature is the central courtyard – an unusual approach that transformed how the home functions.

“We wanted to create an internal courtyard right in the centre of the home – a real-size courtyard that the entire home would essentially flow around,” Priyanka says. “Every room in the house can access it. The homeowners love it because they’ve put a massive dining table outside, and we’ve done louvres so they can enjoy it in all seasons. It’s become the heart of the home.”

This central courtyard serves multiple purposes: it draws nature into the home, creates a natural gathering space, and floods the interior with light. “With big homes, you can give a lot of glazing, but having a central courtyard draws in so much natural light. It creates such an airy, vibrant home to walk through.”

The home is entirely clad in cedar, with contrasting dark and light shades that highlight the curvature of the design. “Anytime anybody thinks of alpine and premium living, cedar is always the best choice of material,” Priyanka says. Schist stone appears as an accent at the entrance, continuing inside past the front door.

The final major evolution of the design came when the clients requested a swimming pool during the building process. “The brief changed to having a swimming pool, outdoor sauna, outdoor shower, spa... which also meant there was a major change in the landscape design.”

This extended the project timeline further, but Home Factor embraced the change. “The beauty of
our model is that we are the sole point of contact for clients,” Priyanka says. “Our entire focus is to make people happy, so it’s no problem. We’ll get it drawn up, get it to council, and deal with any issues with the subcontractors or their timeframes. Rohit loves working with the team and always prioritises our clients’ happiness and desires.”

The Home Factor team prioritised finishing the house itself so the family could begin enjoying it while work continued on the expanded outdoor living areas. The redesigned landscaping needed to complement the home’s architecture. “We had to redesign the landscaping to create more of the beautiful curves,
in keeping with the curvature of the architecture. Everything has to look cohesive.”

Completed in late 2024, this home stands out as a particular point of pride for Priyanka. “Honestly, this home I feel is one of our best design and builds to date. It was a really challenging inspiration and design. It looks simple when you see the photos, but it was quite complex to get right.”

The homeowners agree, saying, “The experience with Home Factor has been very positive. The highly collaborative engagement has resulted in a home we are very proud of.”

This is a family home that balances dramatic architecture with liveable, flowing spaces – a home where architecture, nature, luxury and family life harmoniously converge.

For Home Factor, the relationship-building aspect of the process is just as rewarding as the finished product. “All of our clients are good friends now. When we are in Wānaka, we often love spending time together. We start the home building journey with a handshake and always end with a hug.”