Otago builders and designers have made their mark in awards celebrating New Zealand's best southern houses.
A new home in Queenstown and a renovation in Wanaka have won the Registered Master Builders southern region 2014 house of the year supreme awards.
About 320 people attended the southern region awards at Ascot Park Hotel, in Invercargill, on Saturday to celebrate innovation and design in residential and commercial architecture, new homes, interiors, alterations and additions, and industrial design.
The 2014 house of the year award was won by a new Queenstown home, built by John Gavin Construction Ltd, which was ''a complex build, boasting immaculate detailing on a grand scale'', the judges said.
''This is a build of international presence, by a builder who clearly takes pleasure in his work. The design of this home required a builder of extraordinary skill, in both domestic and commercial architecture.
''Coupled with a difficult site and testing climatic factors, this home posed its fair share of challenges,'' they said.
''With well-crafted exterior timberwork and immaculate stonework, the materials blended into one another and the landscape seamlessly. The detailing is extraordinary - visually simple but complex in its solutions.''
The project had been challenging, but satisfying, builder John Gavin, of Queenstown, said yesterday.
''It was a massive job - it was nearly 1000sq m - but it was a total pleasure to build this home,'' he said.
''It is a spectacular location and it was all built with top-quality materials. The level of detail was right up there with anything we've ever done before. I'm really pleased about the award. To have all that work acknowledged by independent judges is a really nice feeling.''
The renovation of the year award went to Dunlop Builders Ltd for a Wanaka project which was ''a most competent and successful renovation'', the judges commented.
''This renovation is the epitome of simplicity done well, tucking itself quietly and assuredly into this quiet Wanaka street. It exudes quality in its detailing and use of materials, with impressive cedar work both internally and externally,'' they said.
''The builder can be credited for creating a home which will be a delight at any time of year to those lucky enough to reside in its spaces.''
Builder Bryce Dunlop, of Wanaka, was delighted with the award when contacted yesterday.
''An award like this means a lot because you're getting judged by your peers,'' he said.
''With any renovation, the biggest challenge is the unforeseen challenges, the things you encounter that you need to get around before you can get to the next stage. That's the main difference between a new build and a renovation.''
The relationship between owner, architect and builder was vital in a successful project, Mr Dunlop said.
''In this case, we had an Oamaru owner, a Dunedin architect [Nick Baker, of Baker Garden Architects] and a Wanaka builder, so the communication aspect was very important.''
The Registered Master Builders national awards for house of the year and renovation of the year will be announced in Auckland, in November.
Southern region house of the year award winners
2014 house of the year: John Gavin Construction, Queenstown home.
2014 renovation of the year: Dunlop Builders Ltd, Wanaka home.
Renovation ($250,000-$500,000): Breen Construction Company Ltd, Alexandra.
Renovation (over $500,000): Dunlop Builders Ltd, Wanaka. New homes ($250,000-$350,000): Turnkey Homes Ltd, Wanaka.
New homes ($350,000-$450,000): B J Carter Builder, Invercargill.
New homes ($450,000-$600,000): Stonewood Homes (Central Otago) Ltd, Wanaka.
New homes ($600,000-$1 million): JMB Construction, Invercargill.
New homes ($1 million-$2 million): Gray Bros Residential Builders Ltd, Dunedin.
New homes (over $2 million): John Gavin Construction Ltd, Queenstown.
Show home: Allister Saville Builder, Queenstown.
Lifestyle: Craftsmanship, John Gavin Construction Ltd; outdoor living, John Gavin Construction Ltd; kitchen, Allister Saville Builder; bathroom, Trevor Ward Builders Ltd; sustainable home, Gray Bros Residential Builders Ltd; interior design, Allister Saville Builder.
