The national winners were announced late last year at a gala dinner attended by over 600 building and construction professionals held at the Langham Hotel in Auckland and the highly sought after Supreme Award for the House of the Year went to Glenroy Housing Limited for its development of a paradise retreat in Mahau Sound in Marlborough. The home also took out the New Homes $350,000 to $450,000 category – showing that top quality can be achieved across any price range.  

The judges said the builder “probably gave more thought per square metre to this home than any other entry in this year’s competition”. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home boasts stunning views across the water and takes advantage of all day sun. “An intense build, with extraordinary environmental awareness unique in its category, the builder delivered a 131 sq m home with an extremely high level of difficulty,” say the judges.

In the renovation category, the PlaceMakers Renovation Award went to a renovation by Clarke Construction of a period villa. The judges said the integration of old and new displayed “sympathetic craftsmanship with exquisite attention to detail, and great teamwork between client, builder and architect”. The house also won the PlaceMakers Renovation Award over $500,000. The home’s extension consists of three separate pavilions, connected through modern flat roof sections, designed to blend perfectly with the existing structure.

“The renovation replicates the original home to a ‘t’ with faultless workmanship delivering the best of the original design and home with contemporary living,” judges said. Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited took out the supreme award for Project of the Year in the commercial section, as well as the Industrial and Infrastructure Project, with its development of The Rock, at Wellington International Airport.

The judges said, “This extremely complex build was executed to perfection, resulting in a truly sensational building and environment. “The construction team, who made a superb job of a very innovative and extremely difficult structure to build, is a deserving recipient of this year’s RMB Commercial Project of the Year.” The Rock has already won many awards, including the Transport category at the prestigious World Architecture Festival in Barcelona.

Registered Master Builders Federation chief executive Warwick Quinn says the House of the Year competition continues to set the standard for construction in New Zealand. “Irrespective of the extreme circumstances the industry is facing at present, this competition once again proves that Registered Master Builders continue to deliver quality products in residential and commercial markets. “Our organisation is looking toward a brighter future for building in New Zealand and our members will be right there at the forefront,” says Quinn.

John Beveridge, chief executive of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, praised the winners of the awards. “These builders are the leaders that will inspire and reinvigorate our industry through their example and commitment to excellence,” says Beveridge. “We need to make the process of building a home enjoyable for the client, an enriching experience that encourages a renewal of interest in building your ideal house. Recognising quality and premium building skills has never been more important in a climate when certainty is so difficult to come by.”

The winners are:

PlaceMakers Supreme Award and Registered Master Builders 2011 House of the Year: Glenroy Housing Limited for a home in Mahau Sound (also winner of New Homes $350,000 - $450,000 category)

PlaceMakers Supreme Award and Registered Master Builders 2011 Renovation of the Year: Clarke Construction for a renovation in Blenheim (also winner of PlaceMakers Renovation Award over $500,000)

RMB 2011 Commercial Project of the Year: Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited for The Rock, Wellington International Airport (also winner of Industrial and Infrastructure Project)  

Residential Category Winners

• PlaceMakers Renovation Award $250,000 - $500,000: W Rothwell Builder for a renovation in Patons Rock, Golden Bay
• PlaceMakers Renovation Award over $500,000: Clarke Construction for a renovation in Blenheim (also winner of PlaceMakers Supreme Award for the Registered Master Builders 2011 Renovation of the Year)
• Department of Building and Housing New Homes under $250,000: B W Hughes Building Company Limited for a property in Feilding 
• New Homes $250,000 - $350,000: DK Builders Limited for a property in Te Awamutu 
• New Homes $350,000 - $450,000: Glenroy Housing Limited for a property in Mahau Sound (also winner of the PlaceMakers Supreme Award for the RMB 2011 House of the Year) 
• New Homes $450,000 - $600,000: Ascension Homes for a property in Matarangi 
• New Homes $600,000 - $1 million: Steve Haycock Construction Limited for a property in Omaha, Auckland
• New Homes $1million - $2million: John Creighton Builder Limited for a property in Beacon Point, Wanaka
• New Homes over $2 million: AJ Saville Builder Limited for a property in Queenstown Nulook Builders Own Home: Inhaus for a property in Boundary Bay, Abel Tasman National Park (also winner of BRANZ Sustainable Homes under $500,000)
• James Hardie Show Home Award: Landmark Homes Wellington for a property in Aotea, Porirua BRANZ
• Sustainable Homes under $500,000: InHaus for a property in Boundary Bay, Abel Tasman National Park (also winner of Nulook Builders Own Home)
• Pink Batts Ultra Energy Efficiency Award: Harris Builders for a property in Hope, Nelson GIB Living Award: Cliff Erskine Builders Limited for a property in Arrowtown (also winner of PlaceMakers Heart of the Home Kitchen Award)
• PlaceMakers Heart of the Home Kitchen Award: Cliff Erskine Builders Limited for a property in Arrowtown (also winner of the GIB Living Award)
• PlaceMakers Bathroom Excellence Award: Lindesay Construction Limited for a property in Russell Peninsula (also winner of Future Proof Building Outdoor Living Award)
• Future Proof Building Outdoor Living Award: Lindesay Construction Limited for a property in Russell Peninsula (also winner of PlaceMakers Bathroom Excellence Award)  

Commercial Category Winners 

• Retail and Business Project: Naylor Love Construction Limited for Pipitea House, Wellington
• Health Project: Haack Construction for Picton Emergency Ops Centre, Picton
• Education Project: Hawkins Construction Limited for Papamoa College, Papamoa
• Industrial and Infrastructure Project: Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited for The Rock, Wellington International Airport, Wellington (also winner of RMB 2011 Commercial Project of the Year) 
• Tourism and Leisure Project: Stanley Construction for the Knoll Ridge Café, Mt Ruapehu