Building projects you’ll love, and love building together – since 1980.
Project of the Month
Centennial Park Residence I
Situated within the quiet, tree-lined streets of Centennial Park, this extensive heritage renovation and extension reimagines a grand family residence while carefully preserving the character and craftsmanship of the original home. The project involved a complete transformation of the existing two-storey dwelling, balancing contemporary functionality with the architectural integrity demanded by strict heritage requirements.
Internally, the home was entirely reconfigured to create expansive new living spaces, including a bespoke kitchen with adjoining butler’s pantry and breakfast room, multiple formal and informal living areas, five bedrooms with ensuites and two additional bathrooms, as well as a carefully detailed attic conversion featuring an additional bedroom, rumpus room, ensuite and powder room. To the rear, the home was extended to open seamlessly onto a generous outdoor entertaining terrace complete with an external fireplace, lounge, BBQ and bar area, reinforcing the connection between indoor living and landscape.
A key focus throughout the build was the preservation and restoration of heritage detailing. Existing staircases, ornate cornices, ceilings, doors and timber finishes were meticulously retained and integrated alongside contemporary architectural interventions. Externally, the façade was restored and repainted, while recycled roof tiles were sourced to match the original roofscape and maintain the home’s historic character.
The project also included the demolition of the existing detached garage and construction of a new double garage with self-contained accommodation above, as well as a completely reimagined backyard featuring a new swimming pool, extensive hardscaping and lush landscaping to both the front and rear gardens.
Delivered within an impressive 12-month programme, the project successfully navigated material lead time pressures, evolving interior design direction and complex stakeholder coordination. The result is a refined and enduring residence that honours its heritage setting while embracing modern family living in one of Sydney’s most prestigious park-side enclaves.
Architect Ergo Architecture
Interior Designers Millard Design Studio
Photography Tom Ferguson
Engineer Fred Barros Engineering
Dave’s Blog: A Hidden Indicator of Builder Capability
Unlike some other states, NSW has no tiered licensing system that lets builders progressively demonstrate capability as their business grows. On paper, this can make all licensed builders look equally qualified.
In reality, experience, financial strength, management systems and delivery capacity vary considerably between businesses.
One lesser-known way to assess this is through a builder’s Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) eligibility. For projects valued above $20,000, builders must secure HBCF cover for their clients — and before they can, their business is assessed against a range of financial and operational criteria.
Three metrics matter most:
Maximum value of work the builder can have under construction at once.
Maximum number of concurrent projects.
HBCF premium discount or loading.
The first two indicate whether a builder has the capacity to deliver a project alongside their existing workload. If a builder can’t secure HBCF approval at a given value, it’s worth asking why — attempts to work around this by understating the initial contract and adding scope later can expose both parties to risk.
The third metric is the most revealing. Much like life insurance, HBCF providers assess each builder’s risk profile — lower-risk businesses can receive discounts of up to 30%, higher-risk ones a loading. Beyond the dollar value, what matters is what this reflects about the insurer’s view of the builder.
When comparing builders, their HBCF limits and premium rating may say more about their capability and financial strength than a licence number alone.
Pott Points Penthouse Australia Institute of Building Awards 2026 Winner
We’re proud to share that Horizon has won the Residential Construction ($2M–$25M) category at the Australian Institute of Building NSW Professional Excellence Awards for our Potts Point Penthouses II project.
The win now sees Potts Point Penthouses II progress to the National Awards.
And to every subcontractor, supplier and consultant who worked alongside us on site — thank you. Awards like this belong to the whole team.
2026 Master Builders Excellence in Housing & Pool Awards Finalist
We’re also excited to share that Horizon has been named a finalist in the 2026 Master Builders Excellence in Housing & Pool Awards, with two of our projects recognised across two categories.
Potts Point Penthouses II is a finalist in the Home Unit Renovation ($2 Million & Over) category, following its recent AIB NSW Professional Excellence Award win.
Dover Heights Residence IIIis also a finalist in the Concrete Pools ($200,001 & Over) category, recognising the quality and craftsmanship delivered as part of this exceptional project.
Potts Point Penthouses II –Home Unit Renovation ($2 Million & Over)
Not every Horizon story starts with concrete footing being poured. Some start with a fence that’s seen better days, a leaking gutter, or a deck that’s finally given up.
That’s where our Special Works team comes in — the part of Horizon that handles everything from the small stuff to the six-month+ renovation. A loose paling one week, a reworked and updated kitchen the next. Some jobs are done by lunchtime. Others take months.
It’s easy to assume the smaller the job, the simpler it is — but that’s not always the case. Tracking down a persistent leak, running with a full apartment refurbishment or working within a heritage home’s existing structure, can call on just as much technical know-how, planning and hands-on resourcing as a large-scale build. It’s just less visible — there’s no ribbon to cut on a repaired retaining wall.
So, from now on, we’re giving this side of the business a regular spot in What’s on the Horizon. Every issue, we’ll spotlight a job Special Works has recently completed or is currently working on — the kind of work that keeps homes running properly, and the dedicated, talented crew that makes it all happen.
First one up next issue.
Under Construction
Bondi Beach
We are delighted to have started work on a brand new project in the heart of Bondi, metres from Sydney’s most iconic beach. When complete, these will be four of the most luxurious apartments in Bondi, each one occupying an entire level. Looking forward to collaborating with long time partners MHNDU, Richards Stanisich, Cardo Projects and Partridge Engineers to deliver these exceptional dwellings to our fantastic clients!
Horizon Golf Championship
We are delighted to announce that our annual Golf Championship will be held on Thursday, 5th November at Macquarie Links Golf Club.
This is the 12th time we have run the event, and we are looking to build on our success from last year, where we raised over $50,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Fountain and Lifehouse RPA.
If you’d like to play on your own, as a pair, a team of four, or even better – sponsor the event, please contact us here.
See below a current list of logos of our generous sponsors. All we’d ask is that you consider their services the next time you are looking out for some!
How long have you been at Horizon?
I started working at Horizon in March this year.
Where were you born?
I was born in Sydney.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on a residential new build in Vaucluse.
What do you love about your job?
I love the critical thinking of building as well as the pride and craftmanship in completing projects, not to mention the talented people I work with every day and learn so much from.
What do you enjoy about working with architects and designers?
I enjoy the collaboration with architects and designers to bring their vision and ideas to life.
What has been your greatest professional achievement to date?
Replacing rotten awnings on a Bronte home with a beautiful new set, completing the project from scratch: quoting, sourcing materials, building the awnings and painting them.
What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned throughout your career?
To treat every job as if it were your own home.
Three people you’d have over for a BBQ?
Alex Volkanovksi, Gordan Ramsay and David Moses (on BBQ duties of course!).
Favourite dessert?
My aunty’s chiffon cake – it’s the best.
What do you do outside of work?
As much sport as I can fit in: soccer, golf, tennis and pickleball mostly.
Horizon – Building projects you’ll love, and love building together.
