Universal Homes show home wins gold award

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For Immediate Release

Universal Homes show home wins gold award

Universal Homes took away a Gold Award for excellence in workmanship, creativity and innovation at the recent Auckland Registered Master Builders Association 2005 House of the Year and Commercial Awards.

The North Shore-based company earned the accolade in the James Hardie Show Home Award category for their show home at Aintree Heights in Greenhithe, north-west Auckland.

There were a record 98 entries in this year's competition, which honours excellence in the building industry. Successful entrants are rewarded for their design, structure, durability, the selection and installation of materials, and overall finishing.

Universal Homes sales and marketing manager Mike Pearce says Universal is delighted that the home has been acknowledged in the prestigious awards as an exceptional example of an outstanding show home.

"After 40 years of building houses, we can confidently say that the show home at Aintree Heights represents the pinnacle of what a home should be. It blends great design with functionality, and comfortable family living with beautiful areas for entertaining. And it is located in one of the North Shore's most desirable locations. The comments from people who visit it confirm for us that it is everything it was designed to be."

The Universal Homes award-winning residence in Dressage Lane, Greenhithe, is a classic country house in keeping with its semi-rural surrounds. It consists of formal lounge and dining areas, four generously-sized bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study and kitchen.

Designed to be an elegant example of low-maintenance living, the 220-square-metres two-storey lifestyle showpiece has a commanding split-level main entrance in stone, with a full-height lobby. Other features include the designer interiors, a private paved courtyard for alfresco dining and landscaped gardens.

Universal Homes' material selection reflects modern house design practices, yet still achieves a tastefully timeless look, with granite throughout the kitchen, wrought iron balustrade, extensive tiling, cedar shutters and stunning Quantum Schist panels on the exterior.

The Dressage Lane home, which was completed in March 2005, is open to the public for viewing every Wednesday and at weekends.

On the strength of this award, Universal Homes is now eligible to compete for inclusion in the top 100 Gold Awards nationwide. The Top 100 Gold Reserve Award winners will be announced in early August. The recipients are then judged again to determine the overall winners, including the 2005 Placemakers Supreme Award, to be announced at a gala dinner in Auckland on October 15.

The annual Registered Master Builders Placemakers House of the Year is New Zealand's premier residential and commercial building awards programme. In their 15th year, the nationwide awards recognise quality and innovation in the building industry.

ENDS

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