Queenstown homes take out supreme awards at House of Year Awards

Queenstown homes have impressed at the House of the Year Awards taking out three of the top gongs.

 A Frankton home won the National Supreme House of the Year over $1 million Award and another Queenstown home won the National Supreme Renovation of the Year Award. The final supreme award went to a Raglan home.

The Master Builders House of the Year Awards were held in Christchurch last night with three Supreme Winners, seventeen category awards, a craftsmanship award, a special award, and five lifestyle awards announced.

Velvin Building's Frankton home which won the House of the Year over $1 million Award also took home the National Kitchen Excellence Award and the National Resene New Home $2 million - $4 million category. The judges praised the home for its exceptional use of materials and precise detailing, calling it a thoroughly deserving winner.

• The Frankton home is a multi-level 450sqm home with five bedrooms.

“Set on a steep site above the Frankton Arm Walkway, this home makes a demanding location feel effortless. From the street, it is calm and restrained, offering only a glimpse of the sheltered courtyard beyond. Inside, the plan unfolds with quiet clarity: warm, well-connected rooms, views carefully framed to water and hills, and light handled with real care throughout the day.

“Materials are innovative and well used, giving the house a grounded, tactile feel without fuss. The detailing is precise and consistent, and the build quality is clear in every junction. It also reads as a true partnership between architect and builder, where ideas and execution align. The result is a confident, refined home that sits naturally in its setting and lifts the standard for residential work. A thoroughly deserving Supreme winner.”

Howe Construction’s renovation of a Queenstown home earned them the National Supreme Renovation of the Year Award and National Renovation over $2 Million category. The judges praised the meticulous detailing throughout the home, which honours its views of Lake Wakatipu.

• The renovation award winner is a 380sqm apartment with two-levels, five bedrooms, and four bathrooms.

“A complex brief handled with real finesse. This significant apartment renovation resolved the challenges of altering the external fabric within a body corporate and re-leveling uneven floors, all without fuss. The design is minimalist and meticulously detailed, delivering clarity, calm and refined simplicity.

“The plan now comfortably accommodates multiple generations, balancing precision with warmth and providing generous, highly functional spaces that feel restrained yet welcoming. Highlights include a beautifully crafted bespoke kitchen and living areas that open easily to expansive decks with spa and BBQ, creating a seamless setting for everyday life and effortless entertainment. A confident and deserving Supreme Renovation.”

Master Builders CEO, Ankit Sharma, says the 2025 competition remains a cornerstone for recognising excellence in residential building.

• The renovation award winner has views of the forest, mountains and Lake Wakatipu.

“Each year, House of the Year showcases the finest work from New Zealand’s residential sector. The 2025 entries reveal not only superb technical execution but a commitment to creating homes that genuinely enhance everyday living.

“We’re proud of the Master Builders who continue to deliver outstanding results for New Zealanders. Their work lifts expectations of quality and craftsmanship and inspires the future of residential building.

“Every winning home is the result of skilled, disciplined professionals who care about building a better New Zealand. It is a privilege to acknowledge their achievements and the contribution they make to communities across the country,” says Sharma.