Local builder nails two top awards

Martin Dobbe, Urbo Homes manager and company director, at a Pukehangi house which won a gold award and the ITM New Home up to $300,000 category.

A Rotorua building company has won two awards in the Bay of Plenty Central Plateau Registered Master Builders 2015 House of the Year.

Urbo Homes gained the gold award and the category award for the ITM New Home up to $300,000 for its three-bedroom in Pukehangi build. A house it built in Lynmore also won gold and the PlaceMakers New Home $400,000-$500,000 category at a gala dinner on Saturday at Wairakei Resort in Taupo.

Gold, silver and bronze award winners were determined using a points-based system looking at workmanship, design and functionality.

Urbo Homes manager and company director Martin Dobbe said Urbo was pleased with its latest wins, having been recognised last year for the Gold Reserve Master Build Award, while it was the national winner in 2007 and 2006.

"For us we are being compared to what others are doing out there and coming away with the win shows we are doing things right," Mr Dobbe said. "The interest is already quite strong [for our work] but these awards allow us to stand up and say we're good at what we do and gives added confidence in our product."

Urbo Homes is now a national gold reserve finalist. The national finalists will be re-judged by a panel of judges to determine the overall national winners.

They will be announced at a gala dinner in November.

The owner of the award-winning Pukehangi home, Joce Richardson, said they worked with Urbo to design it.

"It's amazing we designed it ourselves to live in just one part of the house, because there is just the two of us, but the house is big enough for our family and friends to come back and stay," Mrs Richardson said.

They had wanted their main living area to capture all-day sun and allow for an easy flow for inside and outdoor living.

Bay of Plenty Central Plateau Registered Master Builders 2015 House of the Year:

* 14 gold award winners from the Bay of Plenty Central Plateau region
* Urbo Homes won gold and the ITM New Home up to $300,000 category for a Pukehangi house
* Also won gold and PlaceMakers new Home $400,000-$500,000 category for a Lynmore house
* Urbo Homes is now a national finalist, with the winner announced in November