House of the Year 2025
Near Te Mata Peak and above the Tukituki River, you’ll find a slice of Hawke’s Bay heaven. This 686sqm property, designed by Sumich Chaplin Architects, is the epitome of elegance, with views that take the breath away. These can be enjoyed from many places in the four-bedroom,three-living room home, but there’s probably nowhere better than from the infinity pool. Cool down during hot, dry summers and take in the outlook to rolling hills, pockets of trees and the Pacific Ocean beyond.
The views back to this special house and its outdoor entertaining zones – both covered and open – are almost as good. The exterior, with plaster, stone and steel posts, is an exemplar of how to do laidback luxe.
Step inside to find the sort of craftsmanship and attention to detail required for such a high-calibre build. You’ll see it in the timber-lined ceilings and soffits, in the screened skylights that cast subtle light on the limestone masonry hallway that links the home’s distinct areas, and in the cosy fireplace with an aged-brass surround from where a TV appears at the touch of a button. You’ll also see evidence of the builders’ skills in the study, open-plan communal spaces, tiled or marbled bathrooms, garage and the courtyard around which life flows. What you won’t see is the complex structural elements concealed behind perfectly finished surfaces. Heaven indeed.
Master Builders House of the Year 2025
East Coast & Hawkes Bay
New Home over $4 million
Credit
Registered Master Builders House of the Year.
See more at houseoftheyear.co.nz.
