Thoughtful layout key to Bayonet Head property claiming HIA-CSR Great Southern Home of the Year title

A Bayonet Head display home has come out on top as Great Southern Home of the Year at the HIA-CSR Great Southern Housing Awards.

The Home Group WA property took out the Home of the Year and Display Home of the Year categories at the annual awards ceremony on September 9.

HGWA Great Southern manager Stacey Bradley said her company valued the awards process because it showed clients what they were getting from their builder.

“You’re judged by someone from outside the region, so we don’t know who they are and it’s completely unbiased,” she said.

“It’s a result that’s completely unbiased and every year there is some great competition across the region. We’re very proud that we are so highly regarded for the results we achieve.’’

HIA WA executive director Michael McGowan said the Bayonet Head home was spacious, well-zoned and perfectly suited to the area with wide market appeal.

“The judges commended the well-thought-out design and faultless construction detail,” Mr McGowan said.

HGWA Great Southern’s Mark Farmer said the shape of the corner block made for a challenging design process.

“We wanted access to the backyard because most people in the Great Southern want their sheds for caravans, boats or storage,” he said.

“Another part of the design brief was for it to have a rear living area and it’s always a challenge with rear living to minimise passageways.

“We located the main bedroom towards the middle, rather than on the main street, for people who are shift workers and that sort of thing, because it doesn’t make sense for them to have a main bedroom on the street.”

Home Group also took home an award for excellence in service and one of its Denmark homes was named Custom Built Home of the Year.

Ms Bradley said the excellence in service award was based on honest and anonymous feedback from clients. “It’s always very rewarding to know you’re on the right track with your clients because we value looking after them,” she said.

A Home Group property in Gledhow earned the company wins in the Affordable Housing of the Year and Project Home up to $350,000 categories.

The award for best project home $350,001 to $500,000 went to Rural Building Company for its project in Marbelup.

A TR Homes build in Bremer Bay took out two categories — Innovation in Lightweight Housing, and Modular and Prefabricated Housing.

Small Commercial Project of the Year was won by Envisage Building Solutions for a home in Ocean Beach.

The category winners will represent the region at the HIA-CSR WA Housing Awards in November.