At the gala dinner and presentation held in conjunction with the annual WANZ conference a Vantage manufacturer, Intext Architectural Systems Ltd, of Auckland, was announced as the Supreme Award (and Commercial $100,001+) winner for its involvement in the new Birkenhead Public Library, on the North Shore.

Two First manufacturers won two of the three residential awards. Epic Windows and Doors, of Mt Maunganui, won the Residential 0-$15,000 category and Metro Building Services, of Palmerston North, won the $15,001-$50,000 category.  Designwindows, Central Otago, (Altherm brand) won the $50,001+ Residential award (there was no award for ‘Commercial’ 0-$100,000).

This year saw a record 27 entries in the Design Flair competition, which was judged by John Sutherland, formerly a partner at Jasmax and former adjunct professor at one of Auckland’s architecture schools (UNITEC).

Epic Windows’ winning entry was for a 2-bedroom guesthouse on a rural property at Te Puna (see top photo). Brendon Gordon Architecture and the property owner designed a clean, contemporary dwelling with a French provincial flavor. Within the context of dark Linea board walls and chimney, First Residential aluminium joinery was supplied and installed in a contrasting off-white Titania powdercoat, with matching timber facings for decorative effect.

Metro’s winner in the next category up ($15,001-$50,000) was for a contemporary-styled rural home at Linton designed almost totally by the DIY owners, who chose dramatic and discerning window and door formats in silver anodised First Residential. The bold but straightforward products chosen complemented clever architecture, which clearly impressed John Sutherland, who thought that the husband and wife team had pulled off a “very interestingly designed house”. The aluminium joinery value was barely half the WANZ category maximum, a tribute to the value-for-money look that the house and Metro Services windows achieved.

The winning Designwindows entry was for a house in Queenstown, designed by Preston Stevens at 2architecture studio. This lakeside dwelling, which won a 2009 NZIA Southern Zone Architecture Award, used the Metro range of windows and doors. It was described as “absolutely stunning” by Sutherland.

The 2010 awards marked the third year in a row that an APL manufacturer has won the supreme award. In 2008 and 2009 Wight Aluminium, of Wanganui (Vantage), won the top prize for commercial buildings in Auckland and Wellington.