112 | New home wows the judges This lovely 245sqm home exudes period charm, and fits beautifully with its established neighbourhood. KiwiBuilt T T Kim Newth BUILDING A grand new residential build in Kelburn, Wellington – inspired by elegant 1900s’ villa architecture – has wowed the judges at this year’s Master Builder House of the Year competition for Wellington & Wairarapa. Lower Hutt builders KiwiBuilt were delighted to receive no less than three regional awards – for craftmanship, smart home and a regional gold – in the New Home over $4 million category for their excellent work in constructing this impressive dwelling. “We’re just so thrilled to have won this recognition, particularly since this is the very first entry for our business,” says KiwiBuilt owner Corey Brown, who leads a skilled and dedicated team. “These awards are judged by a team of industry experts, so we’re over the moon. Gaining the highest marks in our region for craftmanship feels like the biggest accolade of all.” This lovely 245sqm home exudes period charm, and fits beautifully with its established neighbourhood. It looks like an immaculate heritage villa but is, in fact, a completely new home, right down to its stained glass windows, plaster cornices, wainscoting and dado rails. “It’s all brand new, apart from the matai flooring recycled from the old barracks around Shelley Bay. The owner’s dad used to be in the army there, and the owner had spent quite a lot of time there in their younger years, so it was lovely to be able to reuse that flooring here,” says Corey. The owners’ original intention had been to rejuvenate an existing dwelling, but it soon became clear that building a new home, infused with heritage character, was a better option. Today, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home blends style, symmetry and charm with integrated smart home features including custom-designed strip lighting, pendant lighting and wireless dimming, managed through an automated platform, CCTV, alarm and intercom systems. The feel is both gracious and spacious with a 3.3-metre stud height in each room. Add in all the other special touches like five-car parking, a gym, tasteful ensuites, state-of-theart kitchen, and expansive views of the capital, and the result is a compelling masterpiece bringing together the ‘best of all worlds’. As the judges observed: “The happy owners have struck the winning trifecta: top craftmanship, villa-style elegance, and high performance.” Corey says he couldn’t have asked for better clients, noting they had been great to deal with from start to finish. “They trusted us, as a small company, to build their beautiful house and I’m glad we didn’t let them down. Their feedback has been fantastic – they say it’s like living in a hotel.” For KiwiBuilt, this project was a more than three-year journey that required innovative thinking to overcome some unique challenges, such as a having to excavate a large hole for an in-ground garage. Corey’s background in civil works saw him develop a self-supporting boxing system for the slab above the garage, ensuring safety and structural integrity. As well as working closely with the client, KiwiBuilt collaborated with heritage architect Mona Hurnen (Callidus Architects) and their contractor team on all the fine details. “I knew from the outset that this was going to be something special,” says Corey. “I’m lucky to work with fantastic tradespeople – including Wainui Joinery, Noble Kitchens, RMR Decorators, Platinum Plumbing and Wiretec Electrical – who all agreed to put their best foot forward. The clients loved Mona’s plan, but the details were not set in stone. We’d get together to discuss each room and how to get the best outcome – everything was a joint venture and every step was exciting.” Corey has been working with Mona since launching KiwiBuilt, and he says they share a deep mutual trust, based on experience and respect for each other’s skills. Meanwhile, Corey says the Wellington market is starting to pick up, with KiwiBuilt recently approached about doing some gorgeous villa renovations. Residential & Commercial Roofing Proudly Supporting Kiwi Built Residential 04 974 3934 | www.lhgroofing.co.nz An established roofing company, we have a dedicated team with over 60 years of combined roofing experience who strive to deliver outstanding workmanship and excellent customer service. Specialists in designer kitchens, cabinetry and internal stairs, timber windows & doors, including traditional and double glazing. 34 Burden Avenue, Wainuiomata 04 564 7011 www.wainuijoinery.co.nz info@wainuijoinery.co.nz
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