Solitude in Nature: The craft of building in the remote

Abstract

The main intention of the research is to develop a model for backcountry huts within New Zealand which responds to the current prefabrication construction methods and international transport dimensions. Between the mid-1990s and late-2000s approximately 176 huts disappeared from the New Zealand backcountry (Pickering 18). This raised the question of what was being replaced, how is it being built and what potentially could be improved? The design case study proposes to employ a modular prefabricated construction method whilst complying with the international transport dimensions. The prefabricated panel system provides the flexibility of interchangeable openings depending upon the site and solar orientation. Three sites are explored within the design case study chapter, allowing each hut to modify according to site and terrain. Overall the research suggests that the Department of Conservation should implement change, establishing an updated design for New Zealand backcountry huts.