98 | BUILDING The House Company T T Karen Phelps National award ‘a real accomplishment’ Situated overlooking an estuary the award-winning home spans 175sqm and is clad in aluminium and dark stained vertical cedar. In the world of design and build The House Company stands tall having recently secured the prestigious 2023 National Category for New Home $1 million - $1.5 million at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition. The recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation displayed by the company, led by owner Hamish McArthur. “I’ve been trying to win a national award since I started entering the competition 15 years ago and have won the Auckland regional category several times,” says Hamish. “So it was a real accomplishment to win the national award this year. At this level, the attention to detail has to be exceptional, so it was a real testament to the skills of our entire team.” Situated between Matakana and Leigh, overlooking an estuary, the winning home spans 175sqm and seamlessly integrates durability with charm, creating a haven that harmonises with its natural surroundings. Clad in aluminium and dark-stained vertical cedar, the house is nestled among native trees and decorative feature screening. The journey from conception to completion was no small feat taking 1.5 years to obtain building consent. The site itself presented numerous challenges including coastal inundation issues, the presence of asbestos from an old tram, a protected tree, and restricted site coverage. Hamish and his team found solutions to each obstacle, including raising the house one metre above ground level to address future coastal inundation concerns, constructing the garage from materials that could handle floods and ingeniously placing water tanks beneath the structure, anchored so they didn’t float up out of the ground when spring tides occurred. Other challenges included finding out after drilling piling holes that at high tide they filled with water, so foundations were poured at low tide and that the client’s large fridge freezer had to be installed using a special hovercraft. The House Company’s commitment to meticulous planning and attention to detail was evident throughout the process. From conducting investigative reports and securing resource consent to designing the house, obtaining building consents, and completing the build, the company provided a comprehensive and personalised service. The design features an integrated Engel fire and louvre system, ensuring year-round warmth and alfresco cooking opportunities. A 16m long steel beam across the front entrance ensures uninterrupted views, while the use of environmental sustainability measures, such as underfloor ducted recovery heat pump and low-E glass, adds to the home’s overall appeal. Consistency in delivering high-quality finished products has been a key factor in the company’s success at the House of the Year competition, where it has consistently won awards since 2003, says Hamish. He emphasises the increasing difficulty of achieving recognition in a competition where the standards rise each year. “The house has to be special and combine a high level of difficulty with exceptional finish as well as other features such as future proofing.” Based in Silverdale The House Company employs a team of eight professionals offering a range of expertise from design, quantity surveying and project management to colour consultation and administration meaning a comprehensive service for clients and allowing for great control over time, cost and quality of each project. “We have everyone needed to create the most complex of homes right here under one roof. As a team, we work together to ensure the process of designing and building a home is a seamless, stress-free experience that exceeds expectations and results in homes being delivered on time and on budget, every time.” The House Company, now in its 35th year, continues to push boundaries, currently working on diverse projects ranging from a two level home clad in colorsteel and macrocarpa in Mangawahi to a $4.5 million design-build project in Greenhithe. With a commitment to offering a full design and build service, inMobiles: (021) & (0274) 951 449 Email: cwe@cwe-ltd.co.nz Proud to be associated with The House Company Domestic • Commercial Electrical Land and Aerial Surveying | Land Development Engineering Urban and Rural Planning | Project Management is a small consultancy specialising in providing trusted advice, solutions and management in a timely, cost effective and efficient manner. From boundary disputes and multi-lot subdivisions through to aerial surveying, we pride ourselves on understanding your requests and providing quality solutions. Fluker Surveying Ltd 027 454 3090 reception@fluker.co.nz www.fluker.co.nz GARAGE DOORS RODNEY 14 Hudson Road, Warkworth | 09 422 2299 www.dominatorrodney.co.nz
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