‘Masterpiece’ home wins four awards in house-of-the-year competition

This Queenstown home, built by John Gavin Construction, won four awards, including the Supreme House of the Year over $1million in the Southern Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

A Queenstown home, labelled a "masterpiece in craftsmanship", has picked up three awards along with the Supreme House of the Year over $1 million in the Southern Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

Built by John Gavin Construction, it also won New Home over $4 million, Outdoor Living Excellence and a Gold Award.

The competition recognises the best homes, builders and crafts people across New Zealand.

This year, the regional competition had almost 300 entries across nine regions.

Of the John Gavin Construction home, judges commented it showcased excellent craftsmanship and design and "impeccable construction features" in the interior lining finishes.

Floor to ceiling views in the master bathroom showcase the natural beauty of the site. Photos: Supplied

It featured exceptionally-constructed standing seam and stone cladding and flawless negative detailing and flush skirtings, they said.

"The precisely-executed home by John Gavin Construction combines beautifully finished interior elements, resolved planning relationships and site complexities with elegant functionality.

"Blending materials and design to create a visually stunning and functionally exceptional home, this is a masterpiece in craftsmanship."

Hunter & Craig Building & Design received the Southern House of the Year under $1 million award for a property in Cromwell which faced the challenge of difficult resource consenting, requiring the home to be concealed from certain vantage points. That property also won the Altus Windows Systems New Home $750,000-$1 million category, a special award and a Gold Award.

Judges called it an "epic marvel", skilfully carved into the rock, which exemplified the design and build formula.

This under $1m category winner near Bannockburn had to be invisible from certain angles to protect the landscape. Photo: Supplied

Form Construction (Lake Hayes) won the Southern Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award, Builders’ Own Home category, Plumbing World Bathroom Excellence Award and a Gold Award for an "exquisitely crafted" family home, combining practicality and function to create an exceptional living space.

"Every aspect of the house, from its architectural design to the smallest detail like the kitchen joinery handles, demonstrates a commitment to precision and completion.

"The builder’s expertise is further evident in the meticulous site and land stabilisation carried out before the physical construction of the home even began," the judges said.

Caldwell & Highsted won the APL Environmental and Sustainable Excellence Award and a Gold Award for a Dunedin home, which the judges said showcased an "impressive alignment of rigorous client requirements and the builder’s achievements".

This Broad Bay home won the APL Sustainable and Environmental Excellence Award. Photo: Supplied

It stood out as a "commendable example" of environmental and sustainable building practices, exhibiting well-considered attention to passive house design and construction principles, and highlighted energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

AJ Saville Builder won the Southern Resene New Home $2 million-$4 million category and a Gold Award for an Arrowtown holiday home; Lakes Building Co won the Southern New Home $1.5 million-$2 million and a Gold Award for a Queenstown home; and David Reid Homes Wanaka & Central Otago won the Southern Carters New Home $1 million-$1.5 million and a Gold Award for a Wanaka house.

W Hamilton Building won the PDL by Schneider Electric Smart Home Award, the McKenzie & Willis Interior Design Award and a Gold Award for a Dunedin home, while Archi Build won the Kitchen Excellence Award and a Gold Award for a Wanaka home.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz