Pillared mansions and cosy kitchens in the House of the Year Awards

Nigel and Jackie Benton's southern-style Mt Eden mansion. The judges half expected to see a Confederate flag flying out front.

Nigel Benton turned a problem into an asset to pick up a title at the 2006 House of the Year Awards.

Faced with the challenge of building on a difficult site, he incorporated the area's natural resources into his home - some walls were built from the very volcanic rock that made the project so tough.

Mr Benton won the Builder's Own Home Award for the 7000sq ft Mt Eden home he designed with his wife, Jackie.

They were inspired by the grand homes of the southern states in America, and Mr Benton puts his success down to moving away from current trends among New Zealand builders.

"Everyone was going more and more modern. It was good to get away from those trends and do something unique."

Having dug a wine cellar and a swimming pool into the rock, he was glad tackling the project had paid off.

Mr Benton, who won the same award in 2003, said it would be a few months before his next challenge.

A representative for the awards, which were announced at SkyCity on Saturday night, said the workmanship on the home was exceptional.

"The judges arrived half-expecting to see a Confederate flag fluttering [from] this many-columned, two-storey house. But no, this was Mt Eden."

A newly renovated four-bedroom Wellington home scooped the Supreme Award and House of the Year title. Builders N.T. Stevens were applauded by judges for their "heroic renovation" of the property, which has 180-degree views of Wellington Harbour.

But Auckland builders were well represented, with two other projects winning prizes.

The coveted Heart of the Home Kitchen Award, which recognises a home that is not glamorous or ostentatious but caters for family living, went to Tony Fraser for a house in Dairy Flat.

"I am ecstatic. The whole house was built around the kitchen and it really is the hub of the house," he said.

The house was bought by Kevin and Rosie Orrell in April, after they were immediately blown away by the kitchen.

Steve Brackenridge picked up his third prize in three years - the New Homes $450,000-$600,000 award for a property at Omaha Beach.

"I knew we had a good chance but the standard was so high I really am delighted and surprised. It is a really well-thought-out house, though, with a lot of attention to detail," he said.

Judges were impressed by the "innovative design and impeccable detail" of the contemporary-style house and described it as stunning.

It is the 16th year the Registered Master Builders House of the Year and RMB Commercial Project Awards have been held.

Dunedin's new Columba College sports centre won the Commercial Project of the Year.