Business South January 2024

| 107 Hudson Builders BUILDING T T Alexia Anderson Judges applaud ‘top-drawer skills’ Hudson Builders won gold in the category of Builder’s Own Home for the southern region earlier this year. John Hudson is not your average builder. The Queenstown based owner of Hudson Builders Ltd knows his craft, perfecting it to such a fine art, that he now has a Registered Master Builders House of the Year title to his name. Hudson Builders won gold in the category of Builder’s Own Home for the southern region earlier this year, not only securing his business the prestigious title, but the privilege of knowing his Lower Shotover home is now an award winning abode. The awards celebrate building excellence throughout New Zealand, not just the homes, but also the builders and the craftsmanship behind them. John’s 437sqm home, which he completed two years ago, has all the luxurious extras, including handmade Italian fixtures in the bathrooms, a gym, infrared sauna and a self-contained flat and a historic cottage that has been restored. An explanation by judges detailing the win notes that the most apparent standout highlight of the house is the “clear demonstration of top-drawer skills”. “The painstaking attention to detail has been maintained throughout the sprawling house with six bedrooms, four bathrooms and three living rooms. “It’s there in the vaulted ceilings, polished-concrete floors, exposed steel, tiled bathrooms, outdoor room and much-admired kitchen. “You’ll also find it in the cedar-clad exterior with schist and weathered-steel highlights.” For John, another key feature is how warm his home is, which ultimately adds comfort and practicality. For John, he is particularly proud of how he has achieved a very well insulated comfortable home, that is extremely energy efficient. With careful planning and seeking the highest performing insulation on the market, as well as having 23 solar panels, 2 Tesla Powerwall batteries, this home is self-powered on average eight months of the year. “We’re trying to get cleaner, greener . . . and what better way to use energy than from the sun.” He also enjoys the way his home’s layout flows and the privacy it offers, something not everyone in Queenstown has the privilege of, due to housing density in many parts of the area. \Although John’s home has plenty to boast as a stand-alone entry, it was not the only abode that secured him the win. listed heritage cottage on his property, which he renovated, added weight and further intrigue to his entry. The craftsmanship that was poured into the renovation of the cottage, which dates back to about 1870, was acknowledged by the judges, who paid attention to the finer detail, as well as the overall finished project. The cottage’s chimney was rebuilt using the same stones, placed in the exact same positions. “This build shows what can be achieved when form and function meet sympathetic design and craftsmanship,” judges said. The renovation has not only given the cottage a new lease of life, but a new chapter to its story which, thanks to John, is continuing to be told. John, who bought the property in 2019, said his plans for how his new build would look changed along the way, but his main focus never faltered, with his ultimate goal to retain the property and transform it into his own family home. TILING | WATERPROOFING | SCREEDING BATHROOM RENOVATIONS Beautiful Tiling, Expertly Installed www.peaktiling.co.nz PROUDLY SUPPORTING HUDSON BUILDERS 021 108 2764 | jessie@sastudio.co.nz | www.sastudio.co.nz NZRAB Registered Architect • NZIA Member Proudly supporting Hudson Builders

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