Chambo’s regional supreme award: “proud as Punch”
Part of the winning building team, Will Renton, Sham Chamberlain and Chambo. Photo: Marg Braggins.
A house at Ligar Bay has won the regional supreme award in the Nelson Master Builders’ House of the Year competition. Entered in the category for new homes worth $600,000 to $1 million, it also picked up awards for its kitchen and bathroom.
Steve Chamberlain of Golden Bay Builders said that he was “as proud as Punch” of his whole team and that winning the award against hot competition from over the Hill was a great thrill.
“The house was technically very difficult. In excavating for the foundations we uncovered a coal seam that was leaking water. That meant we had to have a specially-engineered foundations. It became very expensive for the owners. They had spent a lot of money before we’d got above ground level. Despite the early challenges, Steve said the whole project went well. He was especially pleased with the quality of the finishing work.
“The house certainly has the ‘wow factor’. The minute you walk in you can see the quality of the planning and the execution. It looks great from top to bottom. The late Ross McKibbin was the block-layer and his work was just outstanding,” said Steve. “I think the quality of the exterior block-work, the joinery, the tiling and the interior timber-finishing all contributed to the win. All the subbies were great and my whole building team worked on the job at various times.”
Houses that are entered for the House of the Year are judged by two independent experts who travel the country to ensure the standard is the same nation-wide. They scored the Ligar Bay house at about 1900 out of the 2000 points available.
One of the owners said that they were pleased for Steve and his team because they had done “such a fantastic job and they deserve the recognition”. The owners have been visiting the Bay on holiday for about 20 years and are in the process of becoming permanent residents.
“I love the house, it feels great. It’s solid, but light and airy. It’s a strong space and I feel protected when I’m here. As well as that we have tried to bring the outside environment into the house by using natural colours in the materials like granite, tiles and timber.”
The house will be assessed as a possible entrant in the national final of the House of the Year. Pictures of the winning house can be viewed on www.goldenbaybuilders.co.nz
Neil Wilson
