Rotorua building company wins gold

Urbo Homes manager and company director Martin Dobbe at a Rotorua house being judged in the Registered Masters Builders 2015 House of the Year competition. Photo/Stephen Parker

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 and were 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 are now national gold reserve finalists. The national finalists will be re-judged by a panel of judges who determine the overall national winners, which are announced at a gala dinner in November.

Owner of the award winning Pukehangi home, Joce Richardson said they worked with Urbo to design their "forever home."

"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.

Mrs Richardson said they 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 are now national finalists with the winner
announced in November