The award-winning Oliver Residence in Yarralumla. Photo courtesy of Preferred Builders.
The team of Preferred Builders and DNA Architects has pulled off a rare double by taking out House of the Year at the 2017 Master Builders Excellence in Building Awards.
The Master Builders ACT award on Friday night for the Oliver Residence followed last year’s Housing Industry Association House of the Year Award for the same Yarralumla property.
Aj Bala from DNA Architects said the team was pretty happy with that but the biggest thing was that the clients were happy with what they got.
He said the four-year process from concept to this award was challenging but it showed how architect, builder and client could work together to achieve that finished product.
Described as a modern, contemporary masterpiece, the low-maintenance 440 sq m property has a 6-star energy rating and open-plan design that features a private upstairs master suite and three large bedrooms, extensive use of stone and timber throughout, an outdoor life-size chessboard and feature barbecue, and a super-sized garage to accommodate car hoists.
Mr Bala said challenges included the size and detail required, as well as moving the original site of the car port from the northern side to achieve the right orientation for the living spaces and for the bedrooms.
“We concentrate on getting the planning side of things right and get the areas in the right spots to get the right kind of sun at certain times of the day,’’ he said.
Double glazing throughout and foam cladding added extra insulation value.
Mr Bala said that despite being a large property it remained sympathetic to the streetscape, with original trees retained and the house remaining quite low-lying for a two-storey building.
The team from Preferred Builders and DNA Architects receiving their Master Builders award. Photo by Josh Mulrine.
Guideline ACT won the Civil Roadworks award for the Constitution Avenue Upgrade, delivering part of Walter Burley Griffin’s vision for the iconic Canberra streetscape.
Executive Director of Master Builders ACT Kirk Coningham said the Guideline ACT construction team brought to fruition a design fusing engineering and landscape elements to create a benchmark for public space in Australia alongside some of the great avenues of the world.
The Young Emerging Residential Builder Award went to Brenton Wells from Future Building, while Acumen Carpentry received the Youth Participation and Training award for its dedication to the industry’s young builders.
“Their effort and dedication to training and mentoring apprentices has been outstanding. They’ve helped many apprentices achieve their qualification to a really high standard and motivated them to continue on the building industry,” Mr Coningham said.
Manteena Commercial and Brema Group’s removal of asbestos and demolition of the 1959-built Currong Apartments was recognised in the Work Health & Safety – Project Displaying Technical Difficulty category.
Mr Coningham said it was one of the most complex Work, Health and Safety projects ever seen in Canberra.
The top Commercial award for Project of the Year went to Willinga Park, the world-class equestrian and reception centre at Bawley Point.
Set on 41ha with extensive facilities for the agistment and training of Australian stock horses, the Willinga project involved several local companies including Construction Control Australia, Ericole Façade Systems and DZ Landscape and Design.
Construction Control’s Andrew Sharpe took out Project Manager of the Year while Granger Atkow won On-Site Construction Manager of the Year.
Mr Coningham said the mix of work recognised on Friday night was an indication of the healthy construction industry in the ACT at all levels – from home building, to commercial and the civil sector.
“There’s a lot to be proud of when you consider these efforts are transforming our city right before our very eyes,” he said.
All winners will go on to represent the ACT in the Master Builders Australia National Awards in November in Hobart.
View all winning homes and projects: https://www.mba.org.au/events/2017_excellence_in_building_awards_winners/
View the House of the Year: http://preferredbuilders.com.au/portfolio/yarralumla-house/
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