TOP PROPERTIES: Home of the year finalists announced

The final regional winners of the New Zealand’s premier residential building competition were announced this week.

The Wellington winners join more than 100 national finalists around the country in the registered master builders 2013 house of the year award.

All the houses will be rejudged before the national awards are be announced in mid-November.

These are the supreme home of the year regional winners in the main centres, from north to south.

Auckland

A Herne Bay home by WG de Gruchy Construction took out the Supreme Award in Auckland as well as the Westpac New Homes over $2 million category.

The property originally began as a renovation but eventually became a completely new build. Judges say the degree of difficultly in constructing the house was immense.

“The exacting standards and incredible attention to detail displayed in this home is almost beyond belief," the judges said. 

“The exterior timber cladding, timber windows and extensive use of textured timber wall linings internally were all crafted perfectly.”

Hamilton

A new build by Stewart Hanna took out the top prize in Waikato, taking the company’s award total to six regional awards.

Judges said it is a fantastic example of the client, builder and architect working together to seamlessly create a home to be desired.

“Built on a north-facing site and overlooking a large reserve, the team has cleverly used Hinuera stone and cedar vertical boarding on both the interior and exterior of this home to create a beautiful flow effect.”

The home was described by judges as “tastefully unusual”, and has a stunning feature wall which also functions as a bathroom door.
 

Bay of Plenty

A renovation by Todd Grey Builders took out the top prize for the Bay of Plenty region.

Judges said the building was a beautifully crafted response to the needs of the client.

“This home has been brought into the 21st century through clever use of cedar rusticated weatherboard and Alucabond on three dimensional features of the home, giving it a contemporary look and feel,” they said.

The upper floor was transformed into an open plan space and introduced a large exterior steel portal.

A new build on a steep site took out the top prize in Wellington. Plan It construction also won in the $1-2 million category and the craftsmanship award for the home in Lowry Bay.

Plan It Construction’s build impressed judges who said it was built on one of the steepest sites they had ever seen.

“Working with a minimalist design, there was absolutely no room for tolerances.

“This was an incredibly difficult site to build on, and the builder should be given full credit for what he has managed to achieve.”

Southern region

Queenstown’s justbuilditnz won its house of the year supreme award for a home in Lake Wakatipu.

Judges said the home, set over five different levels, blends into the landscape with natural materials of cedar, schist zinc and glass.

“With flawless joinery throughout the home and a perfect finish on rare Belgian window and door joinery, the craftsmanship in this home is immaculate.”

vyoung@nbr.co.nz