Sculptural, ambitious, intriguing, organic… The list of descriptions for this curved beauty, designed by Stevens Lawson Architects, is long. So is the list of House of the Year awards, including one of the three highest national honours for 2024 – the Supreme House of the Year Over $1 million.

The national judges did not hold back in praising the house. “Simply put, this project is as close to perfection as we have seen,” they said. As if the top award wasn’t enough, Planit Construction also picked up the fiercely contested and much-coveted National Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award. These come on top of eight Cook Strait regional wins, including those for bathroom, kitchen, outdoor living and interior design excellence. “The Craftsmanship Award celebrates a builder whose dedication to excellence is evident not only in the visible beauty of this home but also in the remarkable planning and foresight behind every step,” explained the judges. “Precision was the hallmark of this project — from the seamless coordination of trades to the thoughtful selection and timing of materials. Every element has been fine-tuned to perfection, reflecting unparalleled skill and attention to detail.”

Where to start after such glowing remarks? From outside, perhaps, where the 655sqm Eastbourne home tucks into its landscape, easing down its sloping site to make the most of harbour views and a flat apron of land with lawn and a pool. The inspiration for the rounded form? A rock with all the sharp edges weathered off over time. This rock is polished, however: the exterior is clad in beautiful, yet low-maintenance black glazed terracotta tiles. The carport and entry shelter beneath an overhang, which is anchored to the ground with an angled in-situ concrete pier. A spacious outdoor terrace emerges from the strong form. The sum effect is both alluring and fascinating.

Rowan Hannah, co-owner and co-director of Planit Construction, says his favourite aspect of the project (which took five-and-a-half years from concept to completion), is its human scale. Despite the multi-level house being large, it’s broken up so doesn’t look nearly as big. It’s welcoming and melds naturally into the backdrop. Open the front door to the five-bedroom, four-bathroom house and the contrast is striking. Where the exterior is moody, dark and organic, inside is a study in lightness and airiness. Pale walls plus light-toned oak floors and ceilings are punctuated with black features such as the joinery, kitchen cabinets, island and a show-stopper curvy staircase, which was also highlighted by the judges. “Spanning five levels, the residence is unified by a spiral staircase and a convenient internal lift, connecting each floor.” For all its architectural merit and award-winning craftsmanship, this is also a robust family home, and will be for years to come. The lift ensures future-proofing, as do sustainable features such as rainwater collection, 85kW of solar panels and a large battery pack primed to store the power they generate.

Planit Construction has won many House of the Year awards over the years, including a Supreme Renovation of the Year, but this is their first for National House of the Year Over $1 million. “We’re obviously over the moon,” says Rowan. “We’ve been hoping to pick up a national one for a while, but it’s a tough competition.” His clients and the architects were at the awards ceremony to help celebrate the win. Others in the industry also showed support for the mammoth undertaking and the company, which employs about 35 staff. Rowan says the success of the house was testament to the collaboration of all involved. “There were so many moving parts we had to deal with in a seamless way.” Fair to say, mission accomplished. The judges described the build as an extraordinary achievement in design and construction, and truly deserving of its place among the finest.