In the middle of the Cardrona Valley sits the newly constructed ABODO cabin. Standing as a testament to the strength and durability of ABODO’s thermally modified timber. The structure was purpose-built to showcase New Zealand’s timber offerings and provide a real-life example of how well it can perform in one of the harshest environments in the country.

Designed by Justin Wright at Assembly Architects, the unique building was created as a showroom for ABODO’s products. With elements paying homage to the classic shepherd's huts of the South Island and certain parts taking inspiration from Scandinavian architecture, the intention was to create a space that was cohesive with the external surroundings and was constructed with a level of detail and craftsmanship.

The showroom is clad with slatted Vulcan timber in the form of a rain screen, this style is becoming an increasingly popular form of facade. But what makes this cabin particularly special is the way the screening covers the entire building from roof to the base.

Rain screens are generally used as an exterior surface or a cladding layer to break the force of sideways, wind-driven water movement. This means that any water that gets through the small breaches in the surface loses momentum, which is particularly useful in areas with high rainfall and regular snow.

A rainscreen system affords architects, designers and builders numerous benefits in moisture-management and energy-efficiency as sitting behind the cladding is a weather-resistant barrier layer, working to repel any stray drops.

Nuraply 3PM was specified to provide a robust two-layer torch on membrane to cover the entirety of the structure. The cabin was essentially wrapped with membrane and was made watertight against the elements.

Alongside the membrane system, Enertherm insulation boards from Outright Continuous Insulation were selected to provide a high level of insulation. This was an important design consideration as the temperatures in the South Island fluctuate a considerable amount during the winter and summer months. 100mm PIR boards with an R-value of 4.5 were specified in the roof and walls. The boards were placed outside of the structure to ensure there was a continuous layer of insulation and no thermal breaks.

Assembly were pleased with the thermal performance of the Enertherm system and liked how the Nuralite Warm roof concept could be transferred to a wall application effectively. The ABODO showroom is now open to visit in the Cardrona Valley, the finished product shows how thoughtful design and high-quality building materials can enhance a building’s performance and make it comfortable in even the harshest of environments.