Department of Conservation (DoC) was aware of ongoing concerns about the weathertightness, durability and structural performance of Powell Hut. Further inspections by Pynenburg & Collins Architects, a structural engineer and building surveyor confirmed that these concerns where justified. This resulted in DoC commissioning Pynenburg & Collins Architects to design a new Powell Hut.

Located above the bushline, the new hut has been designed to withstand alpine conditions including winds of up to 260km/hour and snow on the ground throughout much of the winter.

For the thermal comfort of occupants, the hut is well insulated with double-glazed joinery, cavity construction cladding and ventilation to cope with extreme weather. Space heating is provided by a wood burner with storage for plenty of wood in an adjacent storage shed. East and north-facing windows maximise the available sun and light into the living area.

Being the most popular hut in the Tararua Ranges, we created a 32-bunk capacity mix of platform and individual bunks, spread across four separate bunk rooms.

A large and separate cooking and dining area, with large windows facing east, provides a spectacular view over the Wairarapa.

A spacious deck runs along the east side to provide plenty of outdoor space for visitors to fully enjoy the mountain environment as well as the panoramic views of the Wairarapa Valley from a height of 1200m.

Click here to read the Department of Conservation’s article.