Winner: Mark P. Finlay Architects Built by Hobbs, Inc.
Some new houses look as if they have been on their land for generations. The client for this new home and architect Mark Finlay agreed to create a dwelling that seemed as if it has been a part of Litchfield County for a long time. Finlay paid close attention to replicating much of what makes the architecture of the region so special—an emphasis on symmetry, white clapboard siding, projecting dormers, cupolas, gabled and columned porticos, stonework, towering chimneys, and even something as simple as deep blue shutters. The rear of the house is lined with terraces and screened porches that allow for a variety of outdoor entertaining. Also on the property, Finlay designed a pool house, a structure to house vintage vehicles, and a barn equipped to accommodate recreational vehicles, a workshop and log-cutting facility. Interior design by Anne Chessin Designs also references local vernacular styles. Landscape design is by Highland Design Gardens.
Finalist: Beinfield Architecture Built by Kerschner Development
The Modern Farmhouse has become a recognizable—and much celebrated—architectural style. Beinfield Architecture took that established concept to the next step by fashioning a Modern Barn as a style for a home. This new house in Rowayton is the exemplar of that revolutionary form.
The typical arrangement of windows and doors in barns is far more casual than in a house, and here, they are configured in an almost abstract composition, though the rooms and levels flow effortlessly. The moment one enters the house, a minimally articulated stairway connects the levels—with a reward at the third floor being a roof deck, which embraces miles of views since the house is sited on the town’s highest point.
The first floor’s great room is defined by a conspicuous steel structure, with lighting and built-ins becoming prominent design elements in themselves. A wall of operable glass at one end of the room opens to a pool deck.
Finalist: Cardello Architects Built by John Desmond Builders
What were once an old barn and a century-old boathouse on the Saugatuck River are now cutting-edge examples of residential architecture that marries timeless aesthetics with contemporary design. Through an expansive glass bridge, these two distinct spaces meld into one architectural entity.
The stone barn has been transformed with expansive windows that give it a kind of transparency. Serving as the epicenter of family gatherings, the main living space of the barn is noted for its lofty ceilings, handcrafted live-sawn white-oak floors and interior design by Robin Liotta of Liotta Design.
Linked by the bridge, the barn converges with the boathouse boasting the age-old technique of Shou Sugi Ban, where charred wood creates a compelling contemporary façade.
In the boathouse, the primary bedroom dramatically cantilevers to the edge of the river. A stone staircase, edged with a glass railing, easily leads visitors down to the waterfront. Landscape design is by Wesley Stout Associates.