WINNER: Soo Nipi House

Marcus Gleysteen Architects in Boston, Massachusetts • (617) 542-6060 • mgaarchitects.com

Sited atop a highly visible promontory on Lake Sunapee, the Soo Nipi House was designed for a brother and sister (and their spouses) to enjoy together or separately. The floor plan provides two master suites with equally spectacular views of the lake, while also furnishing a variety of comfortable spaces to cook, eat, gather and relax. The siblings’ original house was destroyed in a fire caused by a lightning strike. Sadly, shrubs, ground cover and a number of surrounding trees were also lost. Now, native plantings are revitalizing the damaged terrain, while a granite and Douglas fir pergola offers a privacy buffer and shades the primary living spaces. The home’s interior contrasts warm wood with white plaster to create an airy but intimate environment. Thoughtful details, executed in close collaboration with artisan builders, give the residence a subtly sculptural, handcrafted quality. Designed for net-zero energy, a photovoltaic array covers the majority of the roof. All potable water is sourced from an on-site well. A system of downspouts, rain gardens and a dry well collect runoff to control erosion and help recharge the natural water table.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID: We can see evidence of both clear building and site strategies. The three building volumes are organized around the circulation spines/connectors of the house, and the program is pragmatic and responsive. There are excellent proportions of massing and also void/solid (fenestration to wall), and an elegant, simple strategy for material contrast that helps break down the scale of the house.