About the studio
A builder's studio,
grounded in the South.
Darkstar Construction was founded in Queenstown in 2011 by Kharl Smith — a master builder who had spent a decade learning the craft on alpine sites across the Wakatipu and Central Otago.
Today the studio remains small by design. We take on a limited number of homes each year, working alongside the architect from concept stage through to handover. It's a quieter way to build, and it produces better houses.
We are Licensed Building Practitioners, a Registered Master Builder, and a member of the New Zealand Certified Builders Association.
01
Craft over speed
We resist the pace that compromises detail. The work takes the time the work needs.
02
Honest with materials
Schist, charred timber, raw concrete, brushed bronze. Materials chosen to age, not to date.
03
Built for fifty winters
Every spec is over-engineered for the alpine climate so the home is calm to live in for decades.
A considered palette
We return to a small palette of honest materials.
Charred cedar. Schist stone. Brushed bronze. Raw concrete. They change with the alpine light, weather gracefully, and ground every home we build to the place it stands.