Oh Brother! Yarralumla project wins National Luxury Home Award

Canberra is making its mark as the centre of building excellence with a Yarralumla home winning a major national award, the second year in a row that the national capital has done so.

The home, built by Weston-based firm Brother Projects, won the prestigious National Luxury Project Home ($1 Million – $2 Million) award at the Master Builders Australia National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards on Saturday night (24 November) at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

It had already taken out three awards at the 2018 Master Builders Building Excellence Awards – Custom Built Contract Home more than 350m2, Bathroom Project – More than $30,000, and Kitchen Project – More than $30,000.

Master Builders ACT CEO, Michael Hopkins said it was excellent to see the incredible work of Canberra builders being recognised on the national stage.

“For an ACT home to take out this award for the second year in a row really is a credit to the expertise and ability of the builders here in the nation’s capital,” he said.

Brother Projects sought to create an exceptional, modern two storey home that would withstand the test of time, with the industrial-inspired open plan home featuring high-gloss, hydronically-heated, polished concrete floors, a statement cantilevered staircase in the entry and the two-storey two-way stone fireplace.

The master bedroom overlooks the outdoor pool, there are oversized stone benchtops, quality appliances, a butler’s pantry, and two freestanding baths.

Brother Projects Director Nathan Dutkiewicz said the firm he founded with his brother Jamie in 2009 was rapt with the result.

He said the house was a standout of exceptional workmanship, with its marriage of different materials and the quality of the finish setting it apart from the rest.

Grey ironbark was used throughout the house on all the internal and external cladding and joinery, including the feature staircase.

Mr Dutkiewicz said integrating the home with its leafy streetscape was also a winner, with some really big oak trees on the verge visible from points throughout the house.

Designed by GR8mosphere, the six-star energy rating home took 13 and half months and cost $1.7 million to build in a strong collaborative effort between client and builder.

Mr Dutkiewicz said it was an enjoyable build, working hand-in-hand with the clients, who had a big say in the selection of materials.

“It was really good to bring the clients’ dreams and thoughts to reality. That was a really satisfying process to go through, and to have the client so totally rapt with it. They loved the process,” he said.

The owners moved in about a year ago and love the house.

Brother Projects, which focuses on the high-end custom residential market and has 14 staff, is already looking ahead to next year with Mr Dutkiewicz saying there were a couple of candidates in the mix.

Two other Master Builders ACT award winners also received awards at the National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards – Downer EDI Works took out the National Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety Award (commercial) and Manteena Commercial won the National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award – under $5 million.

Canberra company and Master Builders ACT member Hindmarsh Construction Australia also took out the National Medium Density Award for Over 5 Dwellings for the Blue-Sky Student Accommodation Project in South Australia.