94 | BUILDING Buildcraft T T Russell Fredric Two homes take out multiple awards The award-winning Jacks Point home, built on a steeply sloped site, necessitated a cantilever steel structure to support the suspended concrete floor. Buildcraft owner Hamish O’Carroll entered last year’s House of the Year awards as a kind of self-audit but was ‘shocked’ to win a clutch of top awards. Hamish started his Wanaka-based business in 2019 after working in the trade for 16 years in New Zealand, and overseas in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. For a Wanaka house, Buildcraft won three national and three regional awards in the $500,000 to $750,000 category; It was National Supreme Winner, National Category Winner, national Top 100 winner, Regional Supreme, Regional Category and Regional Gold winner. A Jacks Point build in the new home $1 to $1.5 million category was the Regional Category Winner, Regional Gold and national Top 100 winner. “It was definitely a bit of a shock,” Hamish says. “I was involved in [the awards] throughout my apprenticeship and always dreamt of entering and we had built a couple of nice houses, but it was more from the point of view of working out where we need to improve. It panned out pretty well.” The two builds were very different projects. Located in the Northlake subdivision, the Wanaka house consists of two linked buildings and was built as a holiday home for two Southland families. Hamish was involved right from the design stage with an architect friend from Auckland. “We needed to design something that had a lot of privacy for a residential area that could take the two families. “They wanted something that would stand out on the street; we definitely did that.” The design needed to provide a good outdoor area as well as providing functional family spaces. The form of the two buildings reflects the southern Kiwi crib and each has asymmetrical gables; one is clad in vertical shiplap cedar and the other vertical corrugated iron. Attached to the linkway, they create a sheltered U-shaped deck area that is perfect for long summer days and nights or, with its log burner, for colder months and viewing starry Central Otago skies. The linkway opens on the deck, as does the lounge dining area while a sliding barn door leads to the wing containing three bedrooms. The main bedroom, with ensuite, has direct access to the deck and courtyard. Sitting below the Remarkables mountain range, the 174 square metre Jacks Point house was built on a steeply sloped site and has a garage under. These elements were a significant part of the build and necessitated a cantilever steel structure. On the exterior, the combination of rustic dark and warm-toned shiplap cedar and schist fits perfectly with the Central Otago environment. The height of the house above street level and dramatic mountain backdrop makes a striking statement. Designed by First Light Studio, Wellington, for Hamish it was love at first sight. “From the moment I saw the plans I definitely wanted to be involved. It was reasonably complex on a smaller scale; building a basement into the hill and a steel structure to support the suspended concrete floor. “To get it up out of the basement and on to the first floor, you’ve got to have everything right, you only get one chance at it.” Inside, ‘simply stunning’ aptly describes the classy but tasteful complementary use of materials and colour tones, including negative-detailed birch plywood in the foyer, stairwell and some ceilings. The winding stairs are crafted in solid oak and the kitchen island includes American white oak. The deck leads out from the main living/ kitchen area and takes in the panoramic views to the north and west from it elevated perch. Both clients are delighted with the result, not just for themselves, but also for Buildcraft as a young company, Hamish says. “They were amazing clients. It’s a good result for the clients as well to know that they are in one of the top houses in New Zealand for quality.” Servicing the Upper Clutha Since 1906 Proud to Support Ludemann Building 21 Wicklow Tce, t Alber Town, Wanaka Email. info@templetonengineering.co.nz templetonengineering.co.nz Gary Templeton: 0273298308 Matt Read: 0273446194. Gibb Building Wanaka Ltd Proud t Support Buildcraft 021 103 9845 INFO@WELCO.NZ WELCO.NZ ELCO
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