House of the year contender

A house designed to capture light and the beauty of Lake Rotokauri is the running for the title of Registered Master Builders 2010 House of the Year.

Greg McGovern Construction Ltd, which won 11 of the 12 categories in the Waikato Registered Master Builders competition, is a Gold Reserve finalist in two categories at the national awards, to be announced in November.

The categories are new homes between $1 million to $2 million and sustainable homes over $1 million.

Becoming a finalist has also put Mr McGovern in the running for the much sought after House of the Year title.

The Rotokauri house, sited on an idyllic vantage point overlooking the lake, is formed by two simple wings, but is rich in detail.

The plan alludes to a kite, with the primary "kite form" accommodating the main living areas, main bedroom and an outdoor room.

Triangular hollow slatted timber columns diffuse the sunlight at roof level and become the hollow vessels to radiate light across the landscape at night.

The house is heavily insulated, and features in-slab heating, solar-water heating, and worm-farm wastewater treatment which is used to irrigate the gardens.

Ron Jackways, who owns and lives in the house with partner Stephanie Treacher, said he couldn't be happier to see Mr McGovern acknowledged in this way.

"I'll be absolutely thrilled if Greg wins," Mr Jackways said. "The awards are his entirely, really."

The couple have lived in the house – which took about a year to build – for almost two years and said they were very happy with it.

Mr Jackways said the workmanship and the quality of the building were amazing – as was the lack of hassles they had with the build.

"We just had no problems from go to whoa."

Mr McGovern said he was happy to win so many regional awards – so to make it into the national finals in two categories was "a great achievement".

"To make the finals you definitely have to have high standards – especially these days. The competition is so tough now."

Foster Construction has also done well this year, with three of its commercial projects in Hamilton city becoming finalists.

The Verandah cafe at Hamilton Lake is a finalist in the category of tourism and leisure, while Deloitte House, on Hamilton's Bridge St, and IAG, on Collingwood St, are finalists in the retail and business project category.

Foster commercial manager Leonrad Gardner said he was "very happy" with that result.

It was the first time the construction company had made it to the national finals. "So to have three in the top 25 in the country, we're rapt."

Other Waikato finalists are: Jennian Homes Coromandel (Department of Building and Housing New Homes under $250,000); DK Builders (New Homes $250,000-$350,000); Urban Residential Developments Ltd (New Homes $350,000-$450,000); Downey Designer Homes (New Homes $350,000-$450,000); David Reid Homes Waikato (2009) Ltd (New Homes $450,000-$600,0000; Stanley Construction for the New World in Morrinsville (Retail and Business Project).

- © Fairfax NZ News