Vectorworks User Nathan Kipnis Designs Home of the Decade

Columbia, Maryland — Nemetschek North America congratulates architect Nathan Kipnis for designing the reader's choice "Home of the Decade," an award given in the 10th anniversary May/June 2009 issue of Natural Home Magazine.

The winning project, a vacation home located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, was designed based on the same techniques that provide natural ventilation in a vintage barn. "I used a combination of curved ceilings and remotely controlled, operable windows at the top of a solar chimney," explains Kipnis. "This pulled air up and out, allowing the home to be naturally cooled."

Other green features include abundant natural daylight; zoned radiant floors; a wood burning stove; ceiling fans; the use of natural, healthy and local materials; cement fiberboard exterior siding; and a combination of soy-based foam insulation and cellulose in the perimeter walls.

"Vectorworks allowed me to very precisely model the home to fully envision the sun's path during various times of the year, both inside and out," states Kipnis. "This was insightful for us in the office, as well as for the owners, as the design was so integrally tied to the sun angles, views of Lake Michigan, and shading from several types of trees. Thanks to Vectorworks, we successfully resolved all of these factors."