Each year, Registered Master Builders House of the Year showcases the best New Zealand homes. Designers and builders nationwide enter their best work, hoping to impress the judges enough to win a coveted Gold, Silver, Bronze, Best in Category or the ultimate national award.
Here’s a preview of homes that we’re putting in front of the 2024 judging panel, plus details on the categories we’re entering. Good luck to our clients and all the teams behind these incredible one-off homes. We’ll let you know how we get on.

Design Builders BOP
Awards evening: 12 July 2024
Category: GIB Show Home
Utsukushii Uchi | Design Builders BOP Showhome
Utsukushii Uchi, which translates to ‘beautiful home’ in English, is the name of this Japanese inspired oasis of refined luxury that seamlessly blends form and function. Traditional Japanese materials and building practices have been used throughout and are clearly referenced from the outset with a garage door framed to look like a shoji screen. Sustainably grown yakisugi cedar cladding beautifies the facade that has a modern, mono-pitched roof and deep eaves with exposed rafters. Open Saturday and Sunday 1 – 4 pm or by appointment. Click here to view more images.
Design Builders Canterbury
Awards evening: 26 July 2024
Category: GIB Show Home
The Rayburn | Design Builders Canterbury Showhome
Both its bold exterior and serene interior were built with meticulous attention paid to ensuring natural light, privacy and spatial harmony throughout. The heart of this showhome is its entertainer’s kitchen (complete with scullery), a luxurious combination of wood, marble and elegant up-lighting. A fireplace feature wall is a stunning focal point in one of the two living rooms, as is a stylish floating staircase to the second floor. Open Saturday and Sunday 11 am – 3 pm or by appointment. Click here to view more images.


Design Builders Hawke’s Bay
Awards evening: 27 July 2024
Category: Carters New Home $1 MILLION–$1.5 MILLION
Urban Loft
This 247sqm Napier home epitomises a modern urban loft with double-height spaces, banks of windows, steel balustrades, a mezzanine floor, and industrial chic cladding of corrugated metal and concrete-look plaster. Its robust, low-maintenance exterior blends seamlessly with the commercial vibe of the neighbourhood, which includes a boardwalk, harbour, and bustling converted wool stores.
Design Builders Waikato
Awards evening: 9 August 2024
Category: Altus Window Systems New Home $750,000–$1 million
Appeal Aplenty
Nestled superbly into a rural setting on the outskirts of town, meticulous planning has ensured this house’s position and orientation capture and enhance all-day sun, along with views of the neighbouring reserve. Bold cladding contrasts accentuate the modern architectural theme, while horizontal shiplap cedar is picture framed by dark board and batten features. This clever design and orientation ensures this 250sqm, four bedroom, two bathroom property is the perfect rural family haven.


Design Builders Waikato
Awards evening: 9 August 2024
Category: Carters New Home $1 MILLION–$1.5 MILLION
Raising The Bar
Smarts and style. You’ll find them in equal measure in this striking family home in the country. Smarts because when you build a house of this standard, you want to make the most of its environment. Maximising 360-degree rural and river views was key for the owners, so the floor level of the 286sqm home was raised up. Ease of entertaining was also a priority. Large doors offer exceptional flow from the open-plan living and kitchen to decking and barbecue areas.