Chrismont, of Cheshunt, took out the top award, the National Building Design of the Year, at a Queensland ceremony hosted by the National Association of Building Designers.

Created by Torquay company MG Design & Building, the property also claimed best new/alteration/addition design, commercial, and best interior design, non-residential.

Another North East project, the Winton Wetlands hub also proved a winner, snaring designer NRG Systems best new/alteration/addition design, public building.

Both NRG Systems and MG Design & Building had taken out Victorian awards earlier this year.

Mark Gleeson, of MG Design & Building said the Chrismont project was an example of making the most of an opportunity.

“I jumped at the chance,” he said. “I pretty much had a concept in my mind straight away of just this whole facade of glass looking out over the vines and somehow trying to cantilever the whole thing so it looked like you were floating above the vineyard.”

Judging panel chair Tamica Lewis praised this aspect of the building.

“The combined palette of concrete, stone, wood and glass creates a light and inviting contemporary interior, which makes visitors feel comfortable and invites them to relax and indulge,” she said. 

Local materials formed part of the construction, for example the Glenrowan stone in the fireplace.

Mr Gleeson said building firm Bright Alpine Builders had been fantastic throughout the project, which was completed last October.

“There was never an issue, never a problem … we worked very well as a team,” he said.

NRG Systems’ Ken Sibley was overseas and not able to attend the award dinner, but expressed delight when told of his success.

Mr Gleeson said he had been pleased by the two category awards and then thrilled by the overall prize.

“I had no anticipation whatsoever, really, there were some beautiful designs up there,” he said.

“It was just amazing, it doesn’t happen every day of the week, does it?”