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Best builds

Awards for NZ’s grand designs

Alarge Fendalton, Christchurch, home with the grandeur of a contemporary hotel has won the Master Builders National Supreme House of the Year Over $1 million award.

The 900m2 house by Metzger Builders has six living areas, six bedrooms, six bathrooms, an internal swimming pool and changing rooms, and a garage that houses eight-plus cars.

The judges were in awe of how the project team delivered a home with the scale of a commercial build that retained the liveability of its much smaller peers.

‘‘It has striking marble, bluestone, herringbone timber and solid brass features sprinkled throughout its graceful living spaces,’’ they said. ‘‘The entrance to the property is also particularly notable, with automatic gates and a long, landscaped driveway that crosses a stream.’’

They also said that while big isn’t always beautiful, this home is ‘‘exceptional’’. ‘‘It has pushed the boundaries in terms of its ambition, but it does so with a sense of style and grace.’’

Living areas open up to an expansive sheltered outdoor living area beneath an operable louvre roof, complete with barbecue, wet bar and outdoor fireplace.

The build also won the National New Home over $4m category, and was earlier judged the Canterbury Supreme House of the Year.

The renovation of a magnificent 19th-century homestead in Oamaru by Roger Gilchrist Building Services, won the National Supreme Renovation of the Year award, the Renovation over $1.5m category, and the National Kitchen Excellence Award.

At 783m2, including an addition, the home was another massive build praised by the judges for the skilful replication of traditional construction methods.

‘‘You can see this in the way specific materials have been reused, such as original wooden joinery,’’ they said. ‘‘However, at its core the two-storey homestead is a careful blend of old and new.

‘‘As is the case for homes of this era, nothing tends to be level, square, or constructed as first thought. And true to form, this project was no different. Problem solving, and coming up with alternate solutions for the owner, played a big part in getting the renovation over the line.’’

The award-winning kitchen was described as ‘‘the ultimate entertainer’s dream and the heart of the home’’. It is positioned strategically within the main family living area and has direct access to the two outdoor entertaining areas.

Solid marble benchtops are teamed with oak joinery. And there is a strong connection to the outdoors, with bifolding windows providing extensive views of the estate and hills beyond. Openings on both sides of the space lead out to patios and gardens.

A three-bedroom Wanaka holiday home by Buildcraft has won the National Supreme House of the Year under $1m and the National New Home $500,000 – $750,000 category.

The H-shaped house features two types of cladding – vertical cedar weatherboards and vertical corrugated iron – all part of the traditional Kiwi vernacular.

Designed to accommodate two families, the 168m2 house maximises space. The link between the living and sleeping wings is glazed on both sides to provide light and sun, while large sliding doors provide direct access to the deck, which features a log burner and pizza oven.

‘‘There is an incredible attention to detail throughout that has resulted in a house the young builder should be very proud of,’’ the judges noted.

Urbo Homes’ renovation of an historic, 100-year-old fishing cottage on the shores of Lake Rotoiti, which has been in the same family since the day it was built, has won the Master Builders National Special Award and the National Renovation up to $750,000 category.

Urbo Homes was given a brief to preserve the history and character of the ‘‘shack’’, retain and reuse as much of the existing materials as possible, and make the house into a comfortable and warm cottage.

The work included retaining the original concrete-filled kerosene cans as piles, the original rimu boards as interior linings, and a number of drawings found on the walls beside the bunks, which the present owner remembers doing.

The judges praised the way the cottage has been sympathetically renovated in a manner that preserves the original character while extended to accommodate the family for future generations.

‘‘All the facilities have been updated to a very high standard including modernised insulation, new exterior cladding, and an extension to accommodate a new kitchen and master bedroom.’’

In announcing the awards Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly said despite no shortage of challenges, the industry has made progress during the past 12 months.

‘‘While the market is definitely softening, as a sector we feel better prepared for the changing cycle,’’ he said.

‘‘We are working with the Government to support policy settings focused on smoothing the boom-bust cycles that have beset the sector over the past 30 years. That remains key to maintaining the long-term stability and wellbeing of the industry.’’

The full list of national award winners can be viewed on the Master Builders House of the Year website.

NEWS

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2022-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281754158333368

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