The team at Design Builders Bay of Plenty has triumphed at the Bay of Plenty & Central Plateau Regional House of the Year Awards 2024, earning Gold for their exceptional Showhome.
Category: GIB Showhome
Award: Gold
An architectural vision bought to life.
Sam Perrin, Design Builders Bay of Plenty, shares insights into the inspiration and meticulous craftsmanship behind the award-winning showhome:
Can you describe the vision behind the showhome, and how it influenced the final outcome?
“The vision from the outset was to build a home influenced by Japanese architecture, building practices, and materials. This has been achieved with an uncomplicated design, filled with detail, texture, and timber.”
What specific materials did you use to create a standout feature in the show home, and why were they chosen?
“We have paid homage to traditional Japanese architecture by using Yakisugi, which literally translates to ‘Burnt Cedar’. This process of charring sustainably grown Japanese Cedar creates a stunning finish with texture and depth of colour.”
Utsukushii Uchi: A Japanese-inspired oasis
Utsukushii Uchi, meaning ‘beautiful home’ in English, is a Japanese-inspired oasis blending form and function. Traditional Japanese materials and practices are evident, starting with a garage door designed like a shoji screen. Sustainably grown yakisugi cedar cladding enhances the facade, which features a modern, mono-pitched roof and deep eaves with exposed rafters.
Inside, skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows fill the living spaces with natural light. Finely detailed oak joinery extends from the kitchen to the entrance, creating a coffee station, bar, and study nook. Polished concrete floors lead to covered decking and a patio with built-in seating around a firepit. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, and powder room enjoy privacy through a shoji slider, while a TV room, main suite, and laundry are on the other side. The spa-inspired ensuite features a yakisugi wall and a shoji screen that opens the bathtub to the bedroom and garden. Click on the link to view this stunning showhome and see it for yourself.
Visit the Showhome:
13 Fairwayview Drive, Omokoroa
Open Sunday, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm or by appointment.
For more information call Sam on 027 757 7170 or send him a message sam.perrin@designbuilders.co.nz to talk about turning your dream home into a reality.
