A local building company has won five awards at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards, a competition which celebrates building excellence in New Zealand.

The two Wanaka houses are both modern, architecturally designed homes located near the lake, built by Dunlop Builders, a Wanaka company which has been operating here for 16 years.

The ‘Schist House’ is clad in bag-washed Glenorchy schist and features darkened American oak doors, plus a schist outdoor wall which creates privacy. It won both Gold and Category Awards in the $1.5m to $2m category, as well as an Outdoor Living Award and Heart of the Home Kitchen Award. 

The second award-winning home built by Dunlop Builders, ‘Black Peak House’, has black-stained cedar cladding which contrasts with its sloping cedar soffits. “A combination of smart design and unbeatable location make it a haven of privacy that’s still intimately connected to the outside world,” judges said. 

‘Black Peak House’ earned a gold award. 

‘Black Peak House’ took a Gold Award in the $2 million and over category. 

“We’re pretty stoked with what we did,” Dunlop Builders co-owner Donnelle Dunlop said.

An awards dinner was held last Saturday night (July 20) at the Dunedin Town Hall. Bryce and Donnelle Dunlop attended with their staff and clients.

“It was a great night to celebrate the House of the Year and to be recognised in the industry for the quality and high standard Dunlop Builders strives for,” Donnelle said. “We’ve got an awesome crew, and we concentrate on the relationship with architects and clients.”

Dunlop Builders, which Bryce and Donnelle established in 2003, has grown over the years and now employs 14 builders.

Four other Wanaka homes were celebrated at the awards: Turnkey Homes won Category and Gold Awards for a house in the $750,000 - $1 million category; Landmark Homes Central Otago earned a Gold Award for a home in the $1-1.5 million category; Christie Brothers Building earned two Silver Awards, one for a house in the over $2 million category and another in the $750,000 - $1 million category; and Stonewood Homes earned a Gold Award for a house in the $650,00-$700,000 category.

Overall there were 19 Gold Award winners from Southern area, which will now be judged against Gold Award winners from around the country to find the National Top 100 Gold Award finalists.

PHOTOS: Supplied