Norwich, VT | 1355 Podunk Road

The sun came first; everything else followed. Redesigned in 2010 by Smith & Vansant Architects, this south-facing contemporary in the hills of Norwich was shaped around light. Passive solar siting, 37 photovoltaic panels, and near-net-zero performance reflect an approach that values efficiency as much as design. At the center of the open living space, a Finnish Tulikivi soapstone woodstove radiates slow, even warmth, while cold-climate mini-split heat pumps provide cooling and backup heat for year-round comfort. The main level is open, bright, and connected, with a kitchen and living area filled with natural light, a separate study, and a half bath. Upstairs, flexible bedroom arrangements span two levels, anchored by a primary suite with a walk-in closet and private balcony overlooking the gardens. The gardens are the second act. Designed with Ben Falk of Whole Systems Design, the landscape unfolds through winding stone paths, terraces, a small pond, perennial beds, and an edible landscape with apple and pear orchards. French doors open to an oversized deck, a stone patio, and a screened porch overlooking the confluence of two brooks. An outdoor shower feels exactly right here. Three additional buildings expand how the property can be used. A post-and-beam studio includes a kitchen, bath, and an artist's workspace overlooking the orchard. A rustic writer's cabin offers a woodstove, sleeping lofts, a porch, and a Swedish composting toilet. Farther along a woodland trail, a tiny house sits above the beaver pond, offering another quiet place to retreat. The barn adds two parking bays, a workshop, and generous storage. More than ten private acres are bordered on three sides by conserved land, including Norwich Town Forest, Upper Valley Land Trust holdings, and the Appalachian Trail corridor. Walking, hiking, and cross-country skiing begin just beyond the door. This isn't a house that borrows Scandinavian ideas. It lives, them through light, warmth, thoughtful restraint.