Chris Sargeant won the award for a residential new home over 250sq m at the Architectural/Resene National Design Awards held in Nelson last night.
The Chris Sargeant Design principal beat three other finalists in the national final, after winning the Otago-Southland regional award in July for the Vauxhall home, "Gerrard House".
The design brief for the Otago Peninsula project called for a four-bedroom family home on a challenging site with privacy from the road but allowing harbour views.
The clients also wanted to capture a sense of living on the water, while integrating the bush-clad section. Strong elements and materials emphasising strength and permanence were also part of the brief.
Judges said the residential project was a departure from Mr Sargeant's usual work designing or redeveloping commercial buildings and apartments as well as student accommodation.
The completed project resulted in an impressive two-level prefabricated concrete panel building sited on a steep section.
The raw concrete finish complemented the gum trees bordering the property, and the extensive use of glass offered uninterrupted views of the Otago Harbour from both levels.
"The confident use of a limited and unexpected palette of materials, on an extremely difficult site, combined to create a strong sculptural statement," the judges said.
