Business South August 2020

70 | Volume 29 | Issue 4 businesssouth Phone: 0274 359836 | Email: admin@mbl.co.nz | Website: www.MBLexcellence.co.nz Metzger Builders is working on this stunning home on Sumner’s Esplanade. BUILDING - CHRISTCHURCH » Metzger Builders “The challenge of a long narrow site was optimising seaviews from as many rooms as possible. Window placement around the south and rear of the house provide high views of Richmond, Evans Pass and Scarborough Hill.” Creating beautiful homes with flair Richard Loader M ark Metzger says building is an extension of the craftsman builder’s artistic flair - ad-libbing with the client and designer to achieve the very best out of each and every project undertaken. Multi-award winning Metzger Builders Ltd (MBL) has been creating beautiful bespoke homes throughout the greater Canterbury region for the last thirty years. “Building is a daunting process to a lot of people and we have to ensure the client is fully informed and has confidence that we’re providing them with all the information, choices and options we can along the way.” Working with the region’s leading architectural firms to transform lines on paper into form and function out of the ground, Mark prefers early involvement in the project to ensure control of the end-dollar cost for the client. “So many times plans have been presented with a budget the client is hoping to build for but cannot be done. They’ve either got to find more money; redesign or they pull the plug on the project.” Mark compliments his wife Ali and the MBL team of craftsmen for enabling the business to perform at the high level it does. “Ali works with our clients on their interiors, colours and choices—all part of the service when building with MBL. “We’re also blessed with experienced and long serving staff. That’s part of the reason we get the opportunity to build these beautiful homes—you have to have the team capable of doing the work.” One of MBL’s current projects is being built on a challenging long and narrow section on Sumner’s Esplanade. Built for a good friend and designed by South Architects, the two-storey home sits on the front half of the section that is subdivided into front and rear building sites. “The challenge of a long narrow site was opti- mising seaviews from as many rooms as possible. “Window placement around the south and rear of the house provide high views of Richmond, Evans Pass and Scarborough Hill.” East facing, the home’s design allows for sun down the north sides of the home while a front bal- cony tucked in the middle of the home is protected from the easterly wind while attracting sun from the west. “The design of the house is very architectural incorporating a lot of astute angles to maximise the views. The use of skillion ceilings means there are no empty voids that either over heat or over cool. “Six different types of cladding reflect the natural material side of the home and include locally sourced stone, two different cedar profiles, metal cladding, some corten steel and there’s a Hardies pre-finished PBS swiss pearl panels.” Mark says while the build structure is compli- cated with all the interactions and intersections of the claddings it is also a pleasure to build with the diversity of materials and angles. “Our foreman just put his hand up straight way saying he would love the opportunity to do that project.” While MBL has chosen not to enter this year’s Master Builder House of the Year Awards, Mark has been asked to judge, which he considers to be an honour.