For more than a decade, the NanaWall NanaAwards have been a snapshot of where residential design is headed. In 2025, the design competition marked its eleventh year with the most submissions to date, and after weeks of public voting, the gold winners have been selected! It’s given us a front-row look at how NanaWall opening glass walls are used by architects, designers, builders, and homeowners to innovate design in the real world, not just for sweeping openings and view-worthy spaces, but for the hard-working parts of a home: durability, weather performance, acoustic separations, hurricane impact zones, and year-round indoor-outdoor spaces.
Opening Glass Walls in Action Across 8 Gold Residential Winners
In 2025, submissions spanned many categories, from barn conversions and mountain retreats to artistic, oceanside, and sustainably focused home designs. The most impressive thread across all 13 Gold winners is not a single aesthetic or residential style. It is a shared dedication to design excellence and exceptional application of NanaWall systems in action. Read on to learn more about this year’s winners and take a look at the myriad ways they put these opening glass walls to work.
Gold Award Best ADU: Bedford Barn Renovation by SPG Architects
The Bedford Barn Renovation turns a historic structure into a finely tuned guest home and multi-use retreat. SPG Architects preserved the barn's character while quietly upgrading its performance. Opening glass walls open up the indoor-outdoor space toward the meadow when the weather allows and seal tightly when it does not, with modern glazing and framing that respect both energy use and comfort.
Gold Award Best Kitchen / Dining: Lumenhaus by Brad Cox Architect, Inc.
In Lumenhaus by Brad Cox Architect, Inc., the kitchen, dining area, and terrace are treated as a single working system. Cooking, serving, and gathering happen in a loop, supported by an opening that responds quickly to the day. Panels glide aside for cross-breeze on temperate evenings, then close to a tight seal when heat, cold, or smoke from the grill calls for separation.
Gold Award Best Living Room: Arlington Retreat by The Dave Moore Companies
Arlington Retreat by the Dave Moore Companies is built around a living room that can shift personality as needed. One moment, it is a calm, acoustically controlled family room; the next, it opens to the garden and becomes the heart of a gathering. The operable wall at its edge does more than frame a view. It manages temperature, sound, and circulation so the room never feels like a compromise.
Gold Award Best Mountain Home: Rustic River Lodge by Home Design Works
Mountain climates are demanding. Rustic River Lodge by Home Design Works faces snow, wind, temperature swings, and bright sun, all without losing its sense of ease. On still summer days, the openings invite in fresh air and the sound of the water. When storms roll in, the system becomes a steadfast thermal and weather barrier. This residential design winner demonstrates that a lodge can feel open and protected, warm and efficient, all at once.
Gold Award Best Patio / Deck: Lakehouse Conservatory by DuBro Architects and Builders
Lakehouse Conservatory by DuBro Architects and Builders treats the patio as a long-term living space, not just a fair-weather bonus. The NanaWall system here defines a flexible edge: open when the lake breeze feels perfect, partially closed to temper wind and glare, fully sealed when temperatures dip.
Gold Award Best Pool House: Cape Cod Pool Cabana by Doreve Nicholaeff Architecture
The Cape Cod Pool Cabana by Doreve Nicholaeff Architecture is summer’s favorite headquarters, but it works hard far beyond pool season. When the panels are open, the cabana is a breezy social hub with clear sightlines to the water and easy circulation for food, towels, and guests. When closed, it becomes a sheltered hangout with controlled humidity and a clean separation between indoor finishes and the elements.
Gold Award Best Waterfront: Saratoga Beach House Submitted by homeowner Brad Jefferson
Saratoga Beach House lives in harmony with the tides, wind, and storms. Along the main elevation, a sweeping NanaWall system pulls the beach into daily life while still respecting the realities of a coastal site. Impact-rated systems, tested hardware, and carefully engineered seals help protect the envelope during severe weather. At the same time, slim profiles and large panels keep the horizon clean and uninterrupted on calm days. This BC residence was envisioned by Etienne Design.
Gold Award Best Remodel: Monteagle Retreat Submitted by homeowner Wendy Fielder
Monteagle Retreat shows how a single strategic opening can change the way an existing house behaves. Designed by Chris Strickland and built by Glenn Grayson Builders, the remodel replaces a once-closed elevation with opening glass walls that reshape circulation, bring in consistent daylight, and improve natural ventilation. At the same time, insulated glass and improved sealing elevate thermal performance beyond what the original envelope could provide.
Final Thoughts
The impressive NanaAwards 2025 Residential Design winners form a wide-ranging portfolio: ADUs and barn conversions, mountain retreats and waterfront homes, and beyond. Some rely on NanaWall systems for extreme weather performance, others for acoustic control, or for the ability to flex between open and closed plans, all year long. This year’s projects illustrate how opening glass walls are used as innovative design solutions across vastly different residential designs.
To every architect, interior designer, builder, contractor, homeowner, and business that submitted work this year, thank you. These residential projects push the boundaries of innovation and design excellence using NanaWall systems! Want to see more about these and other similar projects? Visit the NanaWall inspiration gallery as you plan your next design!
