Our main project goals were: 1) To realize the dream living in a home of our own design. 2) To go through the LEED and Green Star rating programs and earn certifications in each. 3) To create a design that embodied certain qualities of modern Scandinavian design. 4) To “right size” the house at a scale appropriate for its property and its neighborhood. 5) To be environmentally responsible, from a tight and robust envelope to Energy Star appliances to low-water use fixtures and stormwater management to future system readiness (photovoltaic panels). The main design challenge was to actually realize this as a couple and still be happily married at the end (we seem to have succeeded!).

As to the construction challenges:, to be honest, the excitement of realizing this new home dream of ours was significantly tempered by the realities of paying for it all. Especially when the construction schedule extended much longer than promised and costs continued to climb. It became a huge stressor on our lives, but by going through I became a better architect, more sensitive to what the whole process takes, and more aware of the realities of financing, realtors, and third party raters.

The home’s name, “Sisunkoto” is Finnish and refers to “sisu”, the quality of perseverance and inner strength. “Sisunkoto” means “the home of sisu”, embodying the strength it took to achieve it.