Victoria’s Atkinson.Pontifex has taken out the top award at the 2010 HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards, winning Australian Home of the Year.
Atkinson.Pontifex also won the award for the best Custom Built Home (partnered by Omega Smeg). The project presented an opportunity for the builder and its architect Peter Maddison to produce a unique, contemporary home which responded to its natural surrounds.
The home is built on an elevated seaside location with 270-degree views of Port Phillip Bay. The building is split into two elements which are separated by a circulation zone. The roof is prised up over the elements allowing the northern sun to penetrate living zones.
The building elements are further separated internally, with first-floor bridges spanning between them. Steel frames and deep windows accentuate openings and provide strong composition. Low E glass and native planting is used throughout.
"This house ticked all the boxes with a wonderful relationship to the outdoors, use of views, fits into the streetscape and neighbouring properties, together with excellent internal zoning and storage," judges said.
"The home employs multiple sustainability measures including a thermal chimney; geo-thermal bore to heat the home and pool; a 20,000 litre water tank; Low E glass and sun controlled louvres. These features make this relatively large home highly efficient."
Other winners include:
- Apartment Project of the Year: Sam Sgherza Group
- Outdoor Project of the Year: Ecogroup Cairns
- Renovation/Addition Project of the Year: Olympic Holdings
- Townhouse/Villa Development of the Year: Brian Lee Master Builder
- Bathroom of the Year: Bubbles Bathrooms
- Kitchen of the Year: Best Kitchens
- Most Innovative Use of Steel: 20*20
