What makes a master builders award winning house…

Once again the team at J2 are waiting nervously to find out if the house of the decade we have just finished is going to take out the title at the Master Builders Awards this year. 

J2 has taken out the title once before when the company was still based in Sydney- but this is the first podium contender for us on the South Coast.  So what makes a sure-bet submission? When do we know that our go-to combination of great architect, visionary client, knock-out site and incredible finish is actually next level great?  

How do we know that a place is worth the investment of time and money it takes to compete in the builders olympics? Here’s our checklist…..

The architect involved is at the absolute top of their game

Sydney: Steve Koolloos of MCK Architects

South Coast: Virginia Kerridge

The design is totally unique

Sydney:
A 5 bedroom party house that we built for the founders of Four Pillars Gin on a huge 1100sqm block in the back streets of Rosebery that hides behind a modest, but quirky brick facade

South Coast:
An exquisite eco house assembled from recycled timber, sitting in forest with a yoga deck and spectacular landscaped dam.

We got to push materials to their limits:

Sydney:
You have never seen the humble brick reinvented like this house and the off-form concrete kitchen bench pushed engineering and finish to new heights. 

South Coast:
Reclaimed and restored timbers were custom milled for use throughout the house. The carpentry entered the realm of art. 

We got to collaborate with some of the best contractors around:

Sydney:
From landscape designer Daniel Baffsky to Onsite- the job was a who’s who of the best designers and suppliers in Sydney at the time. 

South Coast:
Landscape design by the revered Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture, joinery from the incredible team at Trubuilt Kitchens and acres of Marrakesh plasterwork by Rockcote

We nailed it in terms of budget and timeframe:

Sydney:
$1.5m budget and a 12 month build

South Coast:
$1.7m budget and a 12 month build

When all these elements come together, the job is finished, the architect is thrilled with their vision as realised and the client is happy for us to shout our success from the rooftops we know we know we have a “house of the decade” opportunity. 

Fingers crossed! MBA Master Awards to be announced in September 2020.