WINNER: Guest House, Music Studio, Utility Barn | Sheldon Pennoyer Architects in Concord • (603) 856-8994 • spennoyerarchitects.com

The design challenge: To provide a flexible event space for family gatherings that directs occupants’ focus to beautiful views, allows for a commercial kitchen space where wild game, local grass-fed beef and on-site poultry could be prepared for meals; and provide needed additional garage space without additional paving. Surrounding the site is a deciduous forest interspersed with meadows. This combination of open field and dense forest offer a diversity of native species that became the inspiration for the planting design.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID: This multipurpose barn— a “wildcard” event space—is flexible and open, but also retains the original idea of barn as an open civic area and a guest house for visitors.

Thoughtful and authentic details abound.