Future architects, designers and house builders got busy during the school holidays, submitting over 40 entries to the Make Us a House competition run by Jo Kelly and Co. real estate agents in Carterton.
Children of all ages as well as a sprinkling of adults from Carterton and beyond entered their very tiny homes in the competition, which was judged by registered architect Gregg Crimp from Architecture Robinson Crimp.
The dinky dwellings were crafted out of all manner of materials, including lolly sticks, recycled plastic, lego, outdoor plants, toilet roll tubes, egg boxes and cupcake holders.
Crimp was impressed by the standard.
“The quality of the entries right across the board was absolutely fantastic,” he said.
The three top spots in the competition were awarded to Grace and Leo for their Dream House, Olivia for her Colourful House, and Stella and Lottie for their Friendship House.
Each exhibited some “really ingenious spatial qualities”, Crimp said, as well as an understanding of indoor-outdoor connection, attention to detail, consideration of materials and the use of colour.
“I thought, gosh, yes, really, really good. Even thinking about proportions, like how much room do you need for an outdoor table and chairs on an upper level? The furniture was at the right scale, and they realised they needed clearance space.
“They had really created beautiful spaces. I thought that they were real budding little architects,” Crimp said.
The entry awarded first place exhibited “beautiful attention to detail”.
“There was a clothesline with clothes actually hanging on it and there was a very, very well-resolved sense of scale.”
Among the three commended creations was Alessandra for her Stone House, Ruby for her Pinata House and Eddie for his “absolutely delightful” houseboat.
First, second and third places were each awarded a $100 cash prize.
