Black Beauty: Keane Building

Firmly focused on striving for excellence in all that they do has paid off handsomely for Keane Building, firstly netting them a Gold Award in the 2018 Canterbury Master Builders House of the Year in the up to $450,000 category and going on to become a Gold Reserve Finalist in the National Competition – amongst the top 100 entrants from across the country. At the National competition, Keane Building did Canterbury proud by winning the New Zealand-wide award for the home up to $450k category.

Owners of Keane Building, Chris and Beth Keane, are passionate about bespoke and architectural homes. “We believe homes should reflect the individuals that inhabit them and no two should be the same,” Beth says.  Indeed, this striking North Canterbury home is clean and classic following barn-style lines, yet it is unlike any other, with an injection of sophisticated drama provided via black Coloursteel cladding on both the external walls and the roof, which is stunningly complemented with cedar shiplap and splendidly deep gable ends.

Relatively compact at 131sqm, the L-shaped footprint hosts a spacious interior comprising three bedrooms and two bathrooms and is described by Judges as “a family home punching above its weight”. Matt Keane, foreman and brother of Chris created the concept for the home, and the plans were drawn by Donna Inwood. Standout features internally include the plywood geometric bulkhead in the kitchen, polished concrete floors and benchtop, and the monochromatic mosaic tiles in the bathroom.

Chris Keane established Keane Building in 2009, after completing his apprenticeship with his father, a local builder who serviced the Hurunui District for more than 30 years. Today Chris manages a team of six builders, who all love a challenge. “In the complexities of hills and in the intricacies of architectural design, there is never a dull moment. We are a pretty competitive bunch so we are always challenging ourselves and making sure we are the best we can be.”

Chris and Beth provide a personal one-on-one service, with exceptional communication and dedication to every project. “We really pride ourselves on the relationships with our clients,” Chris says.  “We want to understand our clients’ vision and love to be involved right from the beginning of the design process. The collaboration between client, architect and builder is vital to ensuring a successful outcome for the client.”