An expansive architectural home in Martinborough, built by Planit Construction, has won multiple awards including Supreme House of the Year over $1 million at the 2026 Cook Strait House of the Year Awards.
The project took home a suite of Lifestyle Awards, receiving the Mitre 10 Trade Craftsmanship Award, Interior Design Award, Outdoor Living Excellence Award, The Gas Hub Kitchen Excellence Award, and a Gold Award, while also taking out the New Home over $4 million category.
The judges praised the home for combining ambitious scale with thoughtful planning and highly skilled execution. Stretching 45 metres across its site, the home uses a covered outdoor area to create a natural separation between the main living spaces and the guest and rumpus wing.
A striking entrance and bespoke staircase create a memorable sense of arrival, while hidden doors and carefully resolved detailing contribute to the refinement carried throughout the home.
Travertine stone, timber flooring and detailed tiling have each been handled with precision, with a wide range of materials and finishes brought together to an exceptionally high standard.
The accolades for Planit Construction didn’t stop there, with the project team also taking home a Regional Special Award, the Renovation over $2 million category, and a Gold Award for another renovation in Roseneath, Wellington.
Class E Build secured top honours, awarded Supreme House of the Year under $1 million, a Regional Special Award, the Builder’s Own Home category, and a Gold Award for a stand-out home in Roseneath, Wellington.
The judges acknowledged the home’s exceptional response to logistical challenges and an exposed, high-wind environment.
The home was delivered with immaculate detailing and consistently high-quality workmanship using a varied palette of materials to give the interiors texture and individuality. Careful planning and precise execution create a home that feels confident, complete and deeply connected to its setting.
You Build was awarded the Cook Strait Supreme Renovation of the Year, the Plumbing World Bathroom Excellence Award, the Renovation $1 million – $2 million category, and a Gold Award for a character villa in Nelson.
The judges praised the way the project combines careful heritage restoration with contemporary construction. Original features have been retained and restored, while a light-filled modern addition gives the home the space and functionality needed for modern family living.
The transition between old and new has been handled with impressive control, with refined detailing and consistently strong workmanship allowing the villa’s original character to remain at the heart of the finished home.
For more than 30 years, Master Builders House of the Year has been the ultimate showcase of New Zealand’s top homes, highlighting excellence in design, craftsmanship and construction at every scale and budget.
Master Builders chief executive Ankit Sharma says House of the Year is about more than recognising New Zealand’s top homes.
“They celebrate the teams behind them, the trust between homeowners and builders, and the craftsmanship and innovation that go into delivering stand-out builds,” Sharma says.
“What stands out this year is the confidence and care shown across such a wide range of project types and price points. Our members are not only delivering homes of an incredibly high standard but are also helping shape what quality residential building looks like for New Zealand’s future. From thoughtful planning to quality detailing, the work recognised through House of the Year reflects an industry that continues to lift the bar.”
Master Builders House of the Year is proudly supported by Altus Window Systems, Bunnings Trade, GIB, Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, Mitre 10 Trade, PDL by Schneider Electric, Plumbing World, Resene, and APL Window Solutions.
