Bryce Ardern of Lite-House Waiheke Ltd, who took out the national title for the Meridian Sustainable Homes $500,000 – $1million at the Registered Master Builders 2010 House of the Year in association with PlaceMakers, believes that every Registered Master Builder should enter the competition.
He says the competition helps builders focus on quality and excellence, and helps by setting a standard of workmanship within the industry.
“These messages are passed down to carpenters and subcontractors who then have a standard to uphold. It helps to build team morale, and I recommend that all Master Builders give it a go,” Mr Ardern says.
He says the judging process also “helps to see the areas where you need to improve”.
Builders must be Registered Master Builders to enter the House of the Year competition, and Mr Ardern has been registered for the past eight years.
“I joined because people needed some sort of guarantee, and these days Master Builders is a great organisation that people recognise.
“There are some good networking opportunities through being involved,” Mr Ardern says.
“It’s definitely good to have these awards. It’s like a badge of quality,” he says.
Judges said the stunning one-bedroom apartment on Waiheke Island which won the National Award last year is a genuine eco-home using natural features, and has high levels of attention to detail throughout.
They said it is a high-tech interpretation of the Waiheke lifestyle, and raises the bar of sustainability.
“This home brings a holistic approach to sustainable living, with generation and storage of power by wind and solar, and collecting and storing water for use — harnessing the natural environment to be self-supporting.”
This year Lite-House Waiheke Ltd is again entering a home in the competition.
“House of the Year is a great competition. It’s the best one I’ve ever seen, and it has the best public awareness.
“It is too early for me to say what the biggest business advantage is, but the recognition you get from your peers when you win an award is great,” Mr Ardern says.
The Awards are made possible through the support of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, and supporting sponsors James Hardie, Gib Living Solutions®, Pink® Batts® Ultra® (Tasman Insulation), Nulook and the Department of Building and Housing.
Entries have now closed for the Registered Master Builders 2011 House of the Year and RMB Commercial Project Awards, in association with PlaceMakers.
For information about the competition, visit the Registered Master Builders Federation web site at www.masterbuilder.org.nz.
