Fourteen Upper Clutha homes have been singled out in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year 2022, which celebrates building excellence across New Zealand. 

The annual competition recognises the craftsmanship that go into New Zealand’s top homes, and the judging panel scores each project on workmanship as well as design, functionality and style.

Homes ranged from small to large and modest to grand, earning a slew of different awards.

This Gold Award winner, built by Home Factor, earned the judges’ praise for attention to detail.

They included a “timeless, classic and understated” 212m2 home built by IC Builders and a luxurious 337m2 lakeside home built by Bayview Construction, which the judges said had “all the must-haves of modern, luxury living”.

A 168sqm, H-shaped Wānaka house built by Buildcraft received a whopping six awards - including a Gold Award and an NZ Top 100 Award - the highest number earned locally for a single home.

Judges said the home was “a stellar example of a familiar architectural form that has been executed to perfection”.

Christie Brothers Building won the national category for multi-units for these apartments on Upton Street PHOTO: Larkin Design and Studio Jubb 

Another big award winner was a “beautifully crafted, cutting-edge” 289sqm home built by Dunlop Builders which received four awards including an NZ Top 100 Award and a Regional Lifestyle Award. 

Scooping five awards, this “highly detailed” Cardrona Valley home - built by Toitoi holdings - encapsulates Central Otago style, judges said.

“The roof, which is supported on steel fins, required a high degree of technical skill,” judges said. “Inside, cedar ceilings and negative detailing with seamless wall joins belie the complexity of the work, which is precise and meticulous.”

Judges praised the “understated” design of this Tarras home, which was built by Breen Construction and received both a Gold Award and a Top 100 award. 

A national awards gala held in Auckland last Saturday celebrated the winners.

Learn more about the Upper Clutha homes, builders and awards recognised in Registered Master Builders House of the Year 2022 - as well as winners from all over the country - here.

Described as a “sublime retreat” by judges, this “meticulously crafted” home built by Owens Building earned three awards.

PHOTOS: Registered Master Builders