Hawk House takes flight of fantasy for winning design
A stunning holiday home high in the Queenberry Hills near Wanaka has taken top honours in the 2019 Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards.
Hawk House, built by Spearhead Developments of Central Otago, was described by the judges as ‘‘no ordinary bach – this is a house that surprises you at every turn’’ and an architectural masterpiece.
The firm won the Supreme House of the Year, the Craftsmanship, and Carters $1 million to $1.5m New Home awards for the house, designed by architect James Stockwell and named for its spreading, wing-like roofline.
‘‘Mimicking native hawks, the unique form and use of natural material has created an incredible home that peacefully nestles into its . . . landscape,’’ judges said.
They made special note of the folded roof forms, buried stone entrance and triple glazed facade, which were ‘‘executed perfectly’’.
‘‘The inside boasts an amazing Canadian oak ‘origami-like’ ceiling that can be appreciated room to room. It features a clever use of multi-faceted overglazing on every internal wall.’’
However, Hawk House (RangiKahu) is not just for the owners. It has its own website and is available as a holiday rental on Airbnb for $862 a night.
The Supreme Renovation of the Year Award went to a 135-year-old Petone church remodelled into high-end apartments by Spice Build. The former Wesley church was built in 1883 and is the oldest church in the seaside suburb. When developer Tony Cook bought the property in 2016, it was still a church, complete with bibles, pews and a pipe organ.
Cook said the timber building was in an ‘‘appalling’’ state and had to be gutted and rebuilt.
The Master Builders judges said the build process was a ‘‘fantastic collaboration between the owner and builder. ‘‘It has perfectly retained the original character . . . while breathing new life into it with a stunning apartment conversion.’’
They praised the painstaking attention to detail, with the builder working from historic photos to reinstate external details.
The Wesley Residences, as the project is known, also won an ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Award for designer Grant Clarke of Moore Design.
A Special Award category was introduced to the awards last year to recognise outstanding projects or build elements. This year, the award went to Urban Homes for a home in Kaipaki, Cambridge. The house is reminiscent of a DOC hut, hidden away on an idyllic riverside site.
It was designed as a simple rural, barn-like building. No windows face the bush, creating lighting that has no more impact on the surrounding wildlife than a flickering flame or small campfire.
The judges said: ‘‘The unassuming yet sophisticated home has managed to blend its beauty appropriately with the neighbouring natural environment.’’