The homes of two Bay of Plenty families have today been announced as finalists in this year's Lockwood House of the Year competition.

The Pugh family from Pāpāmoa and a second couple from Pahoia in Western Bay of Plenty, join four other finalists from around New Zealand in the annual competition, which opens for public voting today.

From seaside to lush bush, the designs of each of the houses have been crafted to make the most of their different settings. However, one consistent feature remains the same for each - the desire to take advantage of each location's spectacular views.

Having had their Pāpāmoa section for nearly 12 years before building a permanent structure on it, the number one priority for the Pugh family when designing their home was to take advantage of the site's commanding 180-degree seas views.

'For many years we holidayed in relocatable cabins that we put on the site, but once we were able to, we decided to take advantage of the views by building a two-story home that had all the living space on the top floor,” says Jo Pugh.

The family also wanted the top floor of their home to be open plan to allow extended family to be able to gather and enjoy the space together.

'We wanted a fun house where we can all come together, where the grandkids can play and where we don't have to worry about sandy feet!” says Jo.

The Pahoia couple has a similar story, having lived at their current location for many years before deciding to have their previous home – also a Lockwood – relocated to enable them to build their dream home on the same site.

'This is actually our third Lockwood home, we've always loved them, however this time we opted for the bespoke design and build option to ensure the design fitted exactly with our needs and to ensure we took advantage of our expansive view,” say the owners.

The Pahoia home.

The couple also ensured the design of the home was adaptable for current and future needs, with a covered alfresco area providing shade from the sun, air conditioning in both main bedrooms and a larger roof area to capture more water as the property relies on tank water.

As the home is at altitude, heated concrete floors along with the excellent insulation that Lockwood Homes offer, ensure it's warm and cosy.

Both homes were built by local Lockwood contractors, Seaside Homes.

For 70 years, Lockwood Homes have been part of the fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand. Lockwood House of the Year provides a chance to celebrate the longevity, outstanding performance, and flexibility of Lockwood homes, many of which have become national treasures.

To celebrate Lockwood's 70^th birthday this year, anyone who places a vote in the House of the Year competition will go into the draw to win a Smeg kitchen appliance package.

As one of New Zealand's original innovative manufacturing success stories, Lockwood has proven to be as enduring as it is successful.

Lockwood House of the Year has been running for five years but only judged on a public vote since 2020.

The Bay of Plenty homes are up against four other finalists located in Kapiti Coast, Tokoroa and Coromandel. To find out more about Lockwood House of the Year, and to vote, click here.