Last Day to Vote for AIA NH People's Choice Award!

Today's the last day you can vote for your favorite project entered into the 2012 AIA NH Excellence in Design Awards!

Bonin Architects' submission is #1, The Landing, Newbury, New Hampshire. Located on Lake Sunapee,  this gorgeous new custom home replaced an old uninsulated cottage.  The new home design conforms to the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act guidelines for placement and property setbacks.  The home sits on a narrow 32' wide lot, has 4 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, and plenty of space for entertaining.  See more finished pictures of this custom home on our website at www.boninarchitects.com.

Vote online at http://www.aianh.org.  Remember, voting ends today!

Bonin Architects Hires Architectural Designer / Landscape Architect

NEW LONDON, NH – The architectural firm of Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC, New London is pleased to announce the hiring of Architectural Designer / Landscape Architect Gregory Rusnica, of Newbury, New Hampshire.

Greg graduated sum cum laude from the University of Rhode Island with his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 2005.  After graduating, he joined a Rhode Island architectural firm where he worked on residential design projects, the I-195 relocation project, urban planning, transportation planning, and streetscape, park and waterfront design.  Greg has also worked on many Lake Sunapee properties relating to wetland planning and permitting in compliance with the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act.


Greg has a well rounded knowledge of architectural and landscape science and practice and takes a sustainable design approach to every project. He is comfortable working independently and with the team in every phase of design and construction.


Greg lives in Newbury with his girlfriend, Pam, and his German shorthaired pointer, Wellington.  He is an avid snowboarder and also likes hiking, kayaking, gardening, and cooking. He enjoys New England history and following the progress on environmental protection and preservation.


About Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC:
Bonin Architects & Associates creates innovative, energy efficient home designs and specializes in green, energy efficient homes incorporating recycled and energy efficient building materials and sustainable (green) energy practices.  Construction Administration is offered as a separate service and includes working with clients to determine budget requirements, material choices and product specifications for quotes, and working with the contractor throughout the construction process.

CNN Money Reports Home Building Spikes Higher

CNN reports this morning that home building has spiked to its strongest level in almost two years.  Contributing factors are record-low mortgage rates and a surge in construction of apartments and condominiums.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Housing starts shot up to an annual rate of 685,000 in the month, up 9.3% from October and 24.3% higher than a year earlier. Building activity easily topped predictions of 627,000 starts economists surveyed by Briefing.com were expecting.

Building permits, a closely-watched reading that is less affected by weather than actual starts, also shot up, rising 5.7% from October and 20.7% from the year before to 681,000 homes annually.

"By historical standards, homebuilding activity is still very depressed, but at least it appears to be on an established upward trend," said Paul Diggle, property economist at Capital Economics.

Read the full article here.

New Hampshire home building activity has increased, too, as Bonin Architects & Associates have noticed in the Lake Sunapee area.  Many homeowners are getting a head start on the spring building season by starting the home design of their cottage remodel and cabins with Bonin Architects over the winter months.