Switched On wins multiple regional House of the Year awards
Building solutions company Switched On won a series of awards at the annual Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards in Canterbury and Wellington
over the weekend.
At the Canterbury awards, Switched On received a Gold Award, Lifestyle Award – Kitchen, and was the winner of the
prestigious Builder’s Own Home category. The awards were presented by Master Builders at a ceremony on the evening of
Friday, 27 July. The company also received a Bronze at the Wellington awards the following evening.
Managing Director Chris Hughes says the awards recognise the company’s commitment to quality in a highly competitive
construction landscape.
“To receive recognition from our local Master Builders organisations in both Canterbury and Wellington is a real
honour,” says Mr Hughes.
“In Canterbury, the Builder’s Own Home category is incredibly competitive, with a number of high calibre builders who
are well-known names in the industry. We were really humbled to receive this award – to say we were surprised is a bit
of an understatement.
“I’m proud of everyone involved for achieving these awards. They are a real pat on the back for a lot of hard work.”
Switched On’s three Canterbury awards were for a single-level 373m2 home in Te Korari Street, Christchurch, owned by company founders Geoff and Sue Hughes. The house was designed by Christchurch architects,
Walker Architecture, with designer Ingrid Geldof designing the bathrooms and kitchen.
Mr Chris Hughes says the expansive pavilion-style home was built from the ground up to an exacting standard.
“Te Korari Street was designed and built to be both a family living space as well as a retreat. Our brief was to create
a comfortable space that works well for two people or the extended family, while also ensuring an immaculate finish.
“The job required huge attention to detail, with the owners seeking a build to meet the highest specifications,
including reinforced concrete slab floors and Level 5 stopping used throughout – even in the garage and cupboards. Our
team has done well to balance all of the requirements while ensuring a cohesive feel.”
The kitchen was one of the stand-out features of the project, according to the judges’ comments: “Stunning is the word
we use to describe this kitchen. Centred around the long white kitchen island, this kitchen is large yet functional, it
exudes style yet is simple. Stand out features are the dark stained wood panelling and concealed scullery entry door.
The walk-through scullery has a huge amount of storage and bench space. Attention to detail is in abundance here, a true
delight to judge.”
Switched On also received a Bronze Award at Saturday evening's Wellington/Wairarapa Awards, for the transformation of a previously run-down 1930s farm cottage into a high-end accommodation venue on the Kapiti Coast. The award was for the Master Build 10-Year Guarantee
Renovation up to $500,000 category.
The successful weekend follows Switched On’s recent win at the national 2018 Master Painters Awards, where the company received four awards. This included Gold and Highly Commended Awards for the Te Korari Street build
in Christchurch and aHighly Commended Award in the Residential Rework Interior Character category for the Kapiti Coast
renovation.
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