Master Builders’ award for Lucas home

AS Metricon responds to home buyer feedback, aiming to create designs that better fit changing needs, Australia’s largest volume home builder has been recognised at the 2026 Master Builders Victoria (MBV) Western Regional Building Awards.

Its Atessa 28 display home in Lucas has won the Best Display Home within its respective category.

Featuring a contemporary Nordic facade and thoughtfully planned living spaces, the award-winning single-storey home showcases a smart design-led approach to family living.

Part of Metricon’s Freedom range, the four-bedroom home in Ballarat’s west balances striking character with practical living, offering a flexible and affordable design that can adapt to changing family needs.

Metricon’s west region manager Dion Planken said that they are proud to see the Atessa 28 recognised by MBV at this year’s Western Regional Building Awards.

“This design has been a favourite with buyers across Ballarat and its surrounding areas, who consistently tell us they love its functionality, strong street appeal and value for money,” Planken said.

“To see it recognised among the region’s leading display homes is a fantastic achievement for our team and a reflection of the quality and care that goes into every Metricon home.”

One of the Atessa’s standout features is how it uses a raked ceiling and gabled roofline in the rear living area to accentuate space and light.

Another key feature winning hearts is the covered outdoor room, designed as an extension of the home.

By continuing the same ceiling treatment from the rear open-plan living zone, the design creates a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors.

Metricon’s Ballarat team are receiving feedback in the surrounding region that the Atessa 28 is appealing to people at different life stages, proving a popular choice for first-home buyers and families, but it’s also resonating with downsizers who are ready to move on from a large home on acreage and want something that still feels spacious while being much easier to maintain.

Planken said that there’s a lot to love about this design.

“The feedback we get is that people really appreciate the flexible floorplan and the way the multiple living areas can work for different stages of life,” he said.

According to the team, the other thing people are drawn to is the feeling you get as you walk through the home, explaining that the Nordic facade has been particularly popular, and features like the high roof pitch and exposed beams in the main living area give the home a real sense of space, while still feeling warm and welcoming.

The Atessa 28 is currently on display at the Lucas Estate Display Village in Westcott Drive, Lucas.