108 | T T Hugh de Lacy Talented team’s outstanding build “Rocks are at the core of the house in every sense, with the footprint arranged around exposed rocks, and rocks are a feature inside the house as well...” Ussher Green Builders BUILDING The Rock House, a complex and highly detailed bespoke Central Otago home, which took four years to build, has proved a boon for Alexandra building company Ussher Green Builders with its short-listing for this year’s national Architecture Awards. Built on a natural foundation of Central Otago schist that took eight months to prepare, the Rock House near Alexandra enjoys sweeping views over the Clutha Valley and River. It’s the latest in a succession of outstanding homes produced by company owners and long-time mates Sam Ussher and Matt Green, who grew up together in Clyde, Central Otago, and teamed up to form Ussher Green Builders in 2013. The 360sqm Rock House was designed by Anna-Marie Chin Architects of Arrowtown to a brief demanding a simple, unfussy and bold three-bedroom home that worked with the site and exposed as much of the natural rock as possible. Landing as prestigious a project as that was a testament to Ussher Green Builder’s reputation in Central Otago and further afield. The Rock House has already won the NZ Institute of Architects Southern Region housing award, and is a strong contender for the national title, leaving Ussher Green Builders basking in the reflected glow. The project was certainly a challenge. “We had to strip the entire site back to bare rock with jack-hammers, and the steepness meant in some places the house is eight metres off the ground,” Matt says. “Rocks are at the core of the house in every sense, with the footprint arranged around exposed rocks, and rocks are a feature inside the house as well, complementing the site and the amazing views.” Sam and Matt both built their reputations out of carpentry apprenticeships they took up on leaving high school, Sam with McCrostie Builders in Alexandra, and Matt with another local firm, Civil Construction Ltd. Coming out of their time in 2005, Sam took off for Australia while Matt started up his own company, M Green Building, but on Sam’s return they joined forces as Ussher Green Builders. They started out building a couple of houses in Te Anau, contracting to another company, living in the town during the week and heading home on weekends. They then built five houses in Glenorchy, near Queenstown, in quick succession, making an impression with each one in a region then short of builders, and graduating rapidly into the now highly contested, high-end bespoke architectural house market. Ussher Green Builders employs 11 staff, including four apprentices, working in three two-or-three-man crews, while Matt and Sam cover everything from project management and scoping potential projects to meeting clients and getting quotes out. The company continues to attract high-value projects, among them a 400sqm five-bedroom new home at Picnic Creek, near Clyde, for a repeat customer who has summarised the new building’s style as “engineering in stone”. And if it’s anything like the Rock House, Ussher Green Builders will find itself lauded in the architecture awards again. YOUR DREAM KITCHEN STARTS HERE! Beautifully designed custom cabinetry sales@steadfastjoinery.co.nz | 03 470 1990 @steadfastjoinery steadfastjoinery.co.nz
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