Hamish Craig of Lindesay Construction was shocked when he was announced as the winner of the Outdoor Living Award at the Registered Master Builders 2013 House of the Year.
Even after winning many House of the Year awards over the years, he says it’s still a great feeling to hear his name read out.
“I was really surprised. This is a small, inner-city property and it was a real challenge to get some decent outdoor living on such a tiny site,” he says.
“We’ve worked on some bigger properties where the benefits of outdoor living are far more obvious, so winning with this build was completely unexpected.
“This property was a little bit special — the challenge of achieving a nice, functional outdoor space on such a steep, narrow site made it very different to others in the competition.”
The judges said the two cleverly positioned outdoor living areas make this property an entertainer’s dream.
“This home boasts one private sheltered barbecue area and plunge pool, and an opposite area giving fantastic views through the house and across a large deck over the city of Auckland,” they said.
“Worked into a sloping section surrounded by other homes, the builder has achieved these fantastic private spaces, while the clever design ensures they are connected on both sides of the house, allowing shelter at any time of day.”
Mr Craig says the business advantages of taking part and succeeding in House of the Year are endless.
“This competition is crucial for profile and networking. It’s a goal of ours to enter House of the Year every year, because it keeps us fresh in the minds of those in the industry and the general public.
“For us, it’s also about keeping a happy team together. The team likes to have that sense of achievement — it’s not just about walking away and knowing you built that house, it’s about having that achievement recognised by others.
“We think it’s a great team-building exercise. We always send all the guys who worked on the project to the awards dinner. It’s an opportunity for them to get dressed up and have some fun.”
The Awards are made possible through the support of PlaceMakers, Master Build Services, James Hardie, GIB, Nulook, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Future-Proof Building, Carters, ITM, Plumbing World, Resene and Westpac.
