Revealed: Our top homes

Property Editor·NZ Herald·

17 Jun, 2016 05:00 PM3 mins to read

Award-winning Fraser House at Moureeses Bay, Northland. Photo / Supplied

The renovation of a historic Remuera mansion and a new house built around 500-year-old trees north of Auckland triumphed in the Auckland/Northland Regional ADNZ/Resene Architectural Design Awards last night.

Allan McIntosh of Buildology won two regional awards for his renovation of Remuera's Lucerne Home, built in 1923.

"This is a brave approach to renovation," said judges of the ADNZ awards sponsored by Resene.

"Trouble has been taken to ensure that the house has been represented in the way that it would originally have been intended. This is taken to the extent of sinking the multiple car garage below grade. A dramatic stair proceeds from the bunker to enable the owner to enter this early 20th century house in 21st century fashion."

Darren O'Neil of O'Neil Architecture won for Fraser House, surrounded by 500-year-old pohutukawa trees at Moureeses Bay, Whananaki in Northland. That has cantilevered wings which create a floating impression and enhance and frame the ocean and bush views.

"A modest counterpoint to the contorted limbs of the pohutukawa trees that cling to the cliff above Moureeses Bay. We expect the house to endure materially and formally in relation to its context," judges said.

Mark McLeay of Creative Arch won for Thompson Park Apartments in Mt Wellington and for his Day residence at Murrays Bay, recognised with a commended in the residential new home over 300sq m category.

The judges said of his Murrays Bay design: "The building navigates the slope of the site through a series of steps that enable views of Rangitoto to the majority of the spaces within."

The Thompson Park Developments - on the site of a former Mercury Energy building - had an initial brief of 90 units in the existing building.

Eventually, designers decided to retain the structure's lower two floors and an extensive rebuild had increased "the scope to include 104 apartments including one and two-bedroom options".

"This is a credible solution to a complex pressing problem and a step in the evolution of urban living in New Zealand," the judges said.

The renovated Lucerne Home in Remuera. Photo / Supplied

Grant Bindon of Bindon Design Group was recognised for his work on a Silverdale retail/office development. David Maurice of LTD Architectural received a commended award for his Lake house at Waimauku. Tony Pilkington of Sketch Architecture won a regional award for his reclad Jellicoe Rd project.

Regional design awards are being held across New Zealand throughout June and July, with the national awards to be announced on October 28.