From derelict crib to retro revelation, this was the mighty challenge facing Velvin Building, which put in a bravura performance. In working their magic on a forlorn, A-frame lake house, the team snared the country’s pinnacle prize for revitalising a home – the House of the Year Supreme Renovation of the Year. The Queenstown building firm is no stranger to accolades. Velvin, which also won the National Builders Academy Renovation $1 million – $2 million category, had previously bagged a handful of 2024 regional awards, including the coveted Southern Regional Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award. “I’m pretty overwhelmed,” admitted Joe Velvin-Turner, owner and director of Velvin Building. “I wasn’t expecting it.”

This was never going to be a project that shrunk into obscurity. Neither was it a once-over-lightly revamp. Far from it. The owners, who had commissioned a plan from The Habitat Design Co, understood it would involve major work – and potential unknowns – but were adamant they wanted to forge ahead. In remedying the building, they were passionate about maintaining the nostalgic vibe of the crib. Before the complex overhaul got underway, the three-level house was in very bad shape. “It was ready to fall into the lake,” says Joe. “The floor was out by 120mm.” The builders propped the existing structure with engineered scaffolding and leveled it up with bottle jacks. Asbestos was carefully removed and the ground floor framing and foundations demolished. Out went the old garage dirt floor and in came a new extended lower level comprising two bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry and garage.

Raw exposed-steel beams and portal frames were stitched into the existing structure allowing large dormers in the middle level to expand the living spaces and frame the spectacular views. From here, the communal zone rolls out onto large macrocarpa decking wrapping three sides of the 197sqm house. This entire floor is devoted to living – and what living it is. As well as the band-sawn tongue-and-groove Southland beech lining the walls, you’ll find Timaru bluestone on the bathroom and hallway floors and recycled rimu from the garage studs and workbenches throughout the home. With views of lake and mountains, plenty of outdoor places to enjoy them and a cosy timber interior, this crib also a has a touch of the luxury lodge about it – just not too much. The project team spent a few late nights getting everything exactly right, and there was some deep thinking involved. With today’s materials and slick kitchens, it’s not always easy to strike the right balance between modernity and authenticity, says Joe, but the owners’ input and collaboration were critical to the project. Their careful selections brought everything together.

The House of the Year national judges said they were captivated by the rustic appeal of this interior, featuring locally milled timber with a natural pinhole finish “expertly crafted by the builder”. Linking this living zone to the top level, which has two further bedrooms, is a wide spiral staircase that makes a statement against the warm timber. It’s like a ribbon of black steel – function meets form in the most beautiful way. The exterior, rising like a peak in this mountainous, breathtaking part of the country, is clad in cedar shingles, bevelled weatherboards and dark coloured steel. The home, said the judges, embodied a vision of thoughtful restoration, preserving the essence of a cherished house while enhancing it for future generations. The clients’ commitment to understated luxury and sustainability principles guided every decision, ensuring the house was both beautiful and built to last. The builder’s attention to detail, they added, elevated this project, creating a timeless and enduring sanctuary. “This blend of respect for heritage and sustainable craftsmanship sets this house apart, making it truly deserving of this award.”