A house at Noosa Springs which judges said transported them to another dimension, was named Home of the Year at the annual HIA Sunshine Coast Housing Awards on Friday night.
For the winning builder, Epic Construction, the title was the perfect end to a successful evening as it had already collected awards for Best Timber Home, Custom Built Home Over $1 million and Custom Built Home of the Year. The judges said the winning home’s two levels of functional living allowed it to present as perfect for both entertaining and personal privacy. “Living areas on the lower level spill out on to the deck and overlook the surrounding bush, providing an oasis of calm,” they enthused. “The master bedroom is independent of the other bed rooms and separated with a terrace leading to the pool, allowing for the feel of total escape from the outside world.” Costa Constructions was a triple winner on the night, taking out Best Commercial Project, Townhouse/Villa Development of the Year and Custom Built Home up to $250,000.
The judges said they were impressed the townhouse/villa development had been built to address current market affordability – a duplex with each apartment offering two or three bedrooms or a study, with its own unique floor plan. It was also a successful night for kitchen designer Eileen Middleton, who was named Kitchen Designer of the Year.
Her company, Eileen Middleton Design, also took out the categories for New Kitchen Project Over $20,000, Kitchen Project of the Year and Renovated Kitchen Project up to $20,000.
Judges said her winning entry in the Kitchen Project category could be enjoyed at various times of the day.
“Early morning casts a cool light over the surface finishes and the work tops can be artificially lit if required,” they said. The annual awards were presented in front of more than 300 people at the Caloundra Cultural Centre where HIA Queensland executive director Warwick Temby praised the local building industry. “What we have seen tonight clearly demonstrates that builders on the Sunshine Coast are the equal of their big city colleagues,” he said.
That’s not news to HIA Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay branch manager Adrian Langford, who said Sunshine Coast builders, architects and designers were as good as any in the country.
“It is not just the quality of workmanship but the innovative culture that is developing on the Sunshine Coast, which is setting us apart,” he said. Major winners from the local final go forward to the Queensland awards and, if successful there, can compete in the 2008 national titles.
