WA builders Gransden Construction win HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year
Western Australia builder Gransden Constructions has won top gongs at the recent HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards, taking out both the Australian Home of the Year and Custom Built Home of the Year Awards.
The winning trophy home, located in the Perth Hills suburb of Bedfordale, is on 20 hectares and built around five areas known as pods, which make up a total of 1000 square metres.
One of the pods features a 20m heated pool, complete with enough fibre-optic lighting to make the roof look like the Milky Way.
Builder George Allingham told WA Today the owners, retirees Retirees Tena and Terry Wheeler, wanted a house inspired by their combined love of Japanese architecture.
"It's a large house but it doesn't feel particularly large – it nestles into the block. The architect said it 'touches the earth lightly'," he said.
HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year is the top accolade with other finalists:
- Metricon HomesSouth Australia
- Planbuild Homes Queensland
- Stonehaven HomesVictoria
- Spacemaker Home Extensions Victoria
- BCG Constructions Pty LtdVictoria
- Giorgi Exclusive Homes Western Australia
The project also won the award for the Australian Custom Built Home of the Year, partnered by Stramit Building Products.
The judges were impressed with the execution of the build and the material combination, and described this home as an exemplary masterpiece.
Gransden Construction services the $1 million-plus market in new homes and the $850,000-plus market in home additions or renovations.
Architect Suzanne Hunt says her favourite feature of the home was the tranquillity, light and connection to the landscape.
The orientation of the house on the east-west long axis makes the most of natural weather conditions, including solar gain, natural light and the capturing of prevailing breezes.
High-level remote-controlled windows, sliding glass doors, and louvred and sashless windows ensure cross-flow ventilation.