Launched in 2019, the Colorsteel Awards originally had just the one category for designers and architects — the Colorsteel Building of the Year award. Awarded to Wainui Construction, in conjunction with Red Architecture, the winning project was designed with versatility in mind and cleverly blurred the line between a residential and commercial space. The judges were impressed by the level of detail incorporated into the project: "Clever detailing of recesses were a feature, as was the use of stained timber to define and draw one’s eye into the inhabited spaces,” commented the judges.

The two buildings make use of a Ribline profile that offered a strong architectural finish to large areas of cladding and roofing. The choice of profile also provided a reference to the rural roots of the area while contrasting nicely with the Abodo Tundra weatherboards. The combination of colour and texture anchored the building to its site.

This year the Colorsteel Awards will be bigger and better. To celebrate the finest Colorsteel designs across the country, the 2021 awards will see both Residential and Commercial Building of the Year awards.

The prestigious Colorsteel Residential Building of the Year award celebrates the exceptional use of Colorsteel in the residential sector. The winner will have showcased Colorsteel as the dominant feature of the project, with the building’s visual aesthetics, functionality and the quality of finishing all taken into consideration. Judged similarly to the Residential Building of the Year Category, the esteemed Colorsteel Commercial Building of the Year Award will recognise the best application of Colorsteel in the commercial sector.

Judge Lindley Naismith says she “will be looking for overall excellence in design and execution across both categories. On top of the usual considerations of design and construction quality, I am particularly interested in the way the use of Colorsteel positively contributes to the building’s impact on the surrounding environment."

The winner of each category will walk away with $10,000 cash.

Entries will close July 31st. To learn more about the Colorsteel Awards including how to enter and what prizes are on offer head to colorsteel.co.nz/awards