SPECIAL FEATURE

Andrew Foster Leads Drewaire To Win

THE END RESULT TOOK THE CLIENT’S BREATH AWAY.

NATIONAL MBA AWARD VERY SATISFYING

Sitting confidently amongst woodland in Wamboin, a delightful stone cottage no longer met the living and entertaining needs of its owners. While still in love with their humble abode, they had outgrown the space and set about to find a builder who could extend, renovate and design the property while respecting the original design.

The brief was to deliver a modern, bespoke home with larger indoor and outdoor living spaces without destroying the charm of the existing building. Drewaire Constructions was chosen for the project based on Andrew Foster’s passion for working with timber, his deep respect for the intricate craft of building, his eye for detail and obvious enthusiasm for the project.

Responding to every aspect of the brief, Andrew assembled a team of talented individuals from different disciplines so that he could deliver the clients dream, without compromise. Engaging Chris Buchanan from Sellick Constructions and Gina Carmody By Carmody By Design gave Andrew the added confidence he needed to ensure that the new build blended seamlessly and artistically with the old.

The coming together of Chris Buchanan from Sellick Consultants and Andrew Foster from Drewaire resulted in a marriage of minds. Working with sustainable materials is a passion for both men and they both enthusiastically embraced the challenge.

The overall plan, with its special structural features, perceptive interior design and innovation ensured Drewaire Constructions was able to create a superior flow between indoors and out, welcoming the tranquil bush setting to join the family.

The structure involved trusses spanning 9.5 metres with a roof height of 3.5 metres. This presented an exciting opportunity for Andrew whose extraordinary ability to understand the skills required to hand craft the trusses was extraordinary. This uncanny ability made managing the complex build relatively straightforward. His knowledge of traditional carpentry methods such as scar finger dowel pinning contributed

Andrew and Anna Foster

enormously to the sculptural form. Each of the one and a half ton trusses were carefully transported from Drewaire’s workshop, and craned into place without incident.

To be nominated for a national award that recognised his workmanship and skill was very satisfying for Andrew. To say that he was proud to actually win the award is an understatement.

“Bespoke carpentry jobs like this don’t come along very often so it was an honour to be selected to conceive and build the client’s dream. I was conscious throughout the build that they wanted their current home to mature and improve without leaving the past too far behind. However they still craved a Bespoke finish. The end result took their breath away. That in itself was extremely rewarding, then to win the national MBA award was overwhelming.

We were thrilled to have the designer and clients with us in Hobart for the Awards presentation” Andrew Foster said

The client’s were so proud of Andrew for winning the National Award and are more than satisfied with their personal reward, living with Andrew’s magnificent work of art every day.

“Many thanks to the MBA for nominating Drewaire Constructions yet again and for their continued support of the building industry” Andrew concluded.

Yarralumla project named National Luxury Project Home $1 million–$2 million at Master Builders Awards

A modern, contemporary masterpiece in Yarralumla has been named National Luxury Project Home $1 million–$2 million at the 2017 Building Australia Awards in Hobart on November 25.

One the annual awards’ most prestigious gongs went to local builder and architect team, Preferred Builders and DNA Architects for the Oliver Residence which won ACT House of the Year and Custom Built Home more than 350m2 at the 2017 ACT Master Builders Excellence in Building Awards in June.

The house is the ultimate form of sustainability achieving a 6 star energy rating. The spectacular open-plan design features a private upstairs master suite and three large bedrooms, extensive use of stone and timber throughout, an outdoor life size chessboard and feature BBQ, and a supersized garage to accommodate car hoists.

Michael Hopkins, CEO of Master Builders ACT, says the Building Awards both locally and nationally encourage, promote and recognise ‘best practice’ in building across Australia.

“The Awards provide an opportunity to recognise impeccable talent and expertise in the building industry, and twelve finalists from the ACT were recognised for recent projects” he said. “These awards reinforce the strong commitment of our local master builders to delivering quality and excellence in their building work and all Canberrans should be proud of how the ACT has been represented on the national stage” he said.

“Four Canberra residential builders have come away with National Building Awards this year, and this reconfirms the integrity and commitment behind any builder who proudly wears a Master Builders Award badge.” Mr Hopkins said.

Three other local builders were recipients of National Awards including:

National Alterations/Additions Award – $200,000 to $400,000 – Drewaire Constructions Pty Ltd

National Environment and Energy Efficiency Residential Award – Pichelmann Custom Building Services Pty Ltd & DNA Architects National Display Home – $500,000 to $1.5 million – Monarch Building Solutions, Turco & Associates and The Dept. of Design

Valerio and Kasia Galeotti from Monarch Building Solutions with Michael Hopkins (MBA)

AJ Ajanthan Bala (Director, DNA Architects), Tina and Ian Oliver (home owners) with National MBA President Hedley Davis and Krystal Fraser (DNA Architects)

2017 LNA landscape excellence awards

Congratulations to our landscaping members who took out the following LNA awards:

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION UP TO $35,000

Project Name: Hackett Silver Winner: Foxy’s Landscapes Australia Project Brief: Residential Internal Atrium – High quality soft and hard landscape finishes including mixed red Australian hardwood timber decking surrounded by a combination of exotic ferns and palms.

COMMERCIAL AND CIVIL CONSTRUCTION $250,000–$750,000

Project Name: The Tumut Community Labyrinth for Peace Silver Winner: Dan & Dan Landscaping Project Brief: The Tumut Labyrinth for Peace is in remembrance of World War I. A combination of Wee Jasper bluestone flagging & Bink pavers have been used to construct the labyrinth.

COMMERCIAL AND CIVIL CONSTRUCTION $750,000–$1.5 MILLION

Project Name: National Arboretum Canberra Events Terrace, Gallery of Gardens Silver Winner: Able Landscaping Project Brief: The National Arboretum Canberra, Events Terrace – Gallery of Gardens is a mosaic of several unique gardens, The Labyrinth Garden, The Open Gardens Australia Celebration Garden, The AIDS Garden of Reflection, The Mununja the Butterfly Garden provide a key area for functions, events and recreational activities within the Events Terrace. Each garden has a unique design with various trees, plants and landscape features. Features within each garden include a labyrinth, reflective pond, decorative sculptures, stone walls and welcoming spaces for the public to sit and enjoy the surrounds.

COMMERCIAL AND CIVIL CONSTRUCTION $1.5MILLION–$3MILLION

Project Name: Constitution Avenue Upgrade Silver Winner: Able Landscaping Project Brief: In celebration of the Centenary of Canberra, the Australian Government granted $42Million to the upgrade the 2.5km road connection from Vernon Circle through to Northcott Drive. The upgrade of Constitution Avenue now provides on-street parking, lighting upgrades and a variety of public amenities.

For more information on these winning projects visit www.landscapenswact.com.au and follow the links to the Landscape Excellence Awards

From left to right, Martin Rolfe, Rocky Padjen, Joe Meneghel, Mark Paine & Johnny Noja.

2017 INCENTIVES UP TO $4,000

Employ an Australian Apprentice in the following certificate III trades in 2017

• Bricklaying / Blocklaying • Concreting • Data and Voice

Communications • Engineering Metal Fabrication • Glass & Glazing • Horticulture Turf • Plastering – Solid • Plastering – Wall & Ceiling Lining • Roof Plumbing • Roof Tiling • Steel Fixing • Stonemasonry • Wall & Floor Tiling

The objective of providing incentives is to develop a more skilled workforce and to increase the employment and training opportunities for Australian Apprentices in the ACT. The ACT Building and Construction Industry Training Fund Authority is providing funding for employers who employ a 1st year apprentice in the listed trades during 2017.* • 1st Year Apprentice in approved ACT Contract of Training • Excludes existing workers • ASBA payments at 50% rate • $4,000 max per apprentice payable to employer • $2,000 after 3 mths • $2,000 after 12 mths *Applicable to First year Apprentices commencing with a new employer in the Building and Construction sector from 1st January–31st December 2017 under an ACT Contract of Training. Additional funding may also be available for Indigenous Australians, women in a non-traditional vocation and a person with a disability.

Improve your skills and professional development with the following courses** :

• Wet Area Waterproofing • Confined Space Training • Traffic Control

Management • ACT Construction

Induction Card • Senior First Aid (Level 2) • Computer Software • ACT Work Safety

Representative • Work Safely at Heights • Cert IV Project Management • Testing and Tagging of electrical equipment • Open Cable Registration • Optical Fibre Cabling • Business Administration and Management • Computerised

Accounting

**These courses are examples of courses for which the Training Fund Authority may reimburse a percentage of the training cost (conditions apply). Renovations and additions can improve the liveability and sustainability of a home with careful planning, thoughtful design and a considered choice of builder.

Building or renovating your home is one of the biggest decisions consumers can make but at the same time the complexities of building a new home or undergoing a major renovation can be overwhelming. The MBA has produced a free consumer information guide that will help lead clients through the building process from start to finish, so they’ll always be fully informed and confident about what happens next. The MBA is also here to provide consumers with any additional guidance they may need.

MBA recommends that the first stop should always be finding a builder who is deeply invested in their own reputation. In Canberra, it will almost certainly be a Master Builder. Being invested in their reputation means the builder is as committed to building happy clients as they are to the quality build.

One of our aims at Master Builders ACT is to encourage a strong relationship between clients and their builder and help consumers understand the important steps in seeing their project unfold successfully.

Thank you to all the advertisers who supported the production of this publication.

Michael Hopkins CEO, Master Builders ACT

THE

/ BUILD / EXTEND / RENOVATE

FREE 2017/18 | VOL 17