Soo Nipi House

Merit2

Jul 6

Written By bonnie kastel

Merit // Excellence in Architecture Design - Residential

Architect // Marcus Gleysteen Architects

GC // Burpee Hill Construction

Structural Engineer // Roome & Guarracino, LLC

Landscape Architect // Pellettieri Associates

Description

Nestled on a prominent promontory along Lake Sunapee, Soo Nipi House by Marcus Gleysteen Architects is a stunning New Hampshire retreat that replaced a fire-damaged home. The thoughtful design minimizes the structure's impact on the site while maximizing privacy and breathtaking views. Two primary suites and a shared living space cater to the needs of the sibling owners and their families, with a 24-foot sliding door seamlessly connecting the interior to the pergola-covered patio. Handcrafted details, including artisan tiles and Douglas fir elements, add warmth and character to the home. Designed for net-zero energy with a rooftop photovoltaic array, Soo Nipi House exemplifies site-sensitivity, functionality, and sustainability, resulting in a truly remarkable lakefront home.

Jury Comments

This lakeside residence replaces a former dwelling lost to fire. The siting skillfully engages its beautiful setting, integrating indoor and outdoor living rooms around a hearth that roots the building to its place. The pergola creates an intimate exterior space that mediates and softens the building’s boundary. Further, the stair rises from its stone base, dissolves the corner condition, and provides a rich sectional composition to the entry sequence. The interior realm is well crafted, and offers a warm material palette that produces a welcoming atmosphere. Lastly, the jury commends the building’s deployment of sustainable principles, particularly its use of locally sourced materials, its robust thermal envelope, and its significant rooftop photovoltaic array.