Christopher Homes’ Vu gets national architectural design award

It’s award season in the homebuilders’ industry, and Christopher Homes is bringing home the gold. Vu, a hillside town home enclave in MacDonald Highlands, a Henderson master-planned community, has been recognized by the National Association of Home Builders with Gold and Silver Awards and a Gold by the Best in American Living Awards. They were presented during the 2018 International Builders Show in Orlando.

Vu was honored with the NAHB’s Gold Award for Best Architectural Design of an Attached Community. Vu also brought home a Silver Award for Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Priced $500,000 to $700,000. Winners were selected from a field of over 1,300 entries during a three-day judging process by a panel of seven industry professionals from across the country.

Walking away with the BALA’s best-in-class Gold Award, Vu was recognized during an awards ceremony Jan. 10 for Best Attached Townhouse Community. Judging for the BALA awards is conducted by an expert panel of builders, design professionals, marketing professionals, land planners and interior designers from across the country.

“The Nationals and BALA are two of the most significant awards in the industry. We are proud of what our amazing best-in-class team of architects and designers created in Vu and honored to be recognized for its uniqueness, quality and innovation,” said J. Christopher Stuhmer, founder and CEO of Christopher Homes and a longtime Las Vegas luxury homebuilder. “These awards, coupled with the fact that Vu is already more than one-third sold since opening only five months ago, speak volumes about how these homes resonate with buyers.”

According to Stuhmer, Vu’s strong sales demonstrate the demand in Southern Nevada for attached luxury homes that are comparable in space to single-family homes, but with low maintenance to better accommodate travel and a “lock and leave” lifestyle preferred by empty nesters and young professionals.

The NAHB’s Gold for Best Architectural Design of an Attached Community recognized Vu for its innovative hillside planning solutions featuring terraced streets, natural rock-retaining walls, simple clean lines and optimized views from homes featuring open floor plans with floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple outdoor spaces oriented toward the city view.

The NAHB Silver for Best Interior Merchandising of a Model went to Vu’s Residence One. This single-level, attached home was designed for the affluent, move-down empty nester seeking a luxury home with design details and finishes on par with their previous larger, custom home. It offers a dual master suite for guests and flex space for a den or bedroom. This contemporary home has simple forms, clean lines and a cool color palette. Special attention was given to art placement and selection. Large, oversized pieces reduce the clutter and evoke emotion. Accessories were minimized in keeping with the modern design. Unique wall textures in the master suite, master bath, powder bath and guest suite add depth and warmth.

The kitchen is designed to be an entertaining space as well as highly functional for cooking. Appliances are hidden within sleek cabinetry, and open shelves merchandised with accessories, rather than dishes, provide a more sophisticated look. True indoor-outdoor connection. The main flooring with large format tile continues through to the exterior, and the outdoor furniture mimics the indoor furniture to create a seamless connection between the spaces. This is one of Vu’s best-selling plans, making up 38 percent of the homes sold.

The BALA’s Gold for Best Attached Townhouses was awarded for Vu’s 2,639-square-foot, multilevel Residence Three, featuring two bedrooms, an office, 2½ baths, two decks and a 2½-car garage.

Nestled on the mountainside of MacDonald Highlands with views of city lights, the Strip, DragonRidge Country Club and the surrounding mountains, Vu features 129 town homes ranging from 2,639 square feet to over 4,600 square feet with the feel of single-family homes, including courtyards and backyards. Homes are priced from $775,000 to more than $1,250,000.

Built with the move-up, young professional without children and empty nesters in mind, Vu offers upscale living with a modern sensibility evidenced in floor plans that make the kitchen the heart of the home, both highly beautiful and functional; significant open space for entertaining and socializing; and self-contained guest suites ideal for visiting family and friends — all topped with jaw-dropping views.

Elegant appointments in each Vu home are abundant and include high-end finishes, details and products commonly found in custom homes. Vu’s partnerships with best-in-class brands like Kohler, Bosch, Thermador, Sub-Zero and Wolff outfit each home with top-shelf appliances and fixtures with special focus on gourmet kitchens that are as gorgeous as they are functional. Stunning modern art that is available for purchase graces the walls of Vu’s model homes via an especially unique partnership with Elena Bulatova Gallery at City Center. And a partnership with RH outfits each model with contemporary and museum-quality decor, lighting and mirrors.

Vu is near holes 12 and 13 of DragonRidge, offering world-class golf on this private 18-hole championship course designed by acclaimed golf course architects Jay Morrish and David Druzisky. Residents of Vu have special access to DragonRidge Country Club, which includes a 42,000-square-foot clubhouse that offers formal dining, two casual restaurants/grills and lounges and a spacious ballroom to accommodate special events. It also includes a well-appointed fitness center, swimming pool, spa and pro shop.

Situated behind a 24-hour manned gate, high alongside the McCullough Mountain range, Vu enjoys a sense of peaceful sanctuary and unrivaled privacy. Yet its location just west of the 215 Beltway offers convenient access to the Strip and McCarran International Airport.

As part of the MacDonald Highlands community, Vu residents enjoy access to three neighborhood parks with designated play areas and picnic facilities, plus tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate five miles of residential walking trails within the community that connect to additional and more rugged McCullough Mountain trails.