the project

We were tasked with creating a luxurious and grand home to sit at the heart of an estate in the gently sloping hills north of Carnoustie. The client wanted to maximise fantastic long views over the Tay and the North Sea, and create a high-end and contemporary light-filled environment. The estate’s beautiful gardens would also remain at the heart of the design. The design needed the wow factor to give this estate an appropriate feeling of impressive grandeur and yet also be suitable as a family home.

 

How we worked

There were several elements that led to our design choice. We knew we wanted to create a harmonious large-scale design, and so had to remove extensions and elements which had accreted over time. We decided to create a single, readable form which could act as the new face for the house. Inspiration came from researching the local area and marrying elements of traditional estate houses with the sport and golf pavilions of nearby courses, for which Carnoustie is famous. The shallow roofed, classically proportioned, colonnaded structures on solid plinths were used to inform our crisp, modern design.

The sloping site lent itself to our three-storey extension which appears like a 1½ storey pavilion as the slope accommodates the lower floor. The extension is entered on the middle floor to create an airy piano noble. We placed the entire heart of the home here, including kitchen, dining and living areas, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass and with access to the colonnaded balcony. This impressive modern space is perfect for entertaining, as well as soaking up the southern sun and enjoying expansive views across the Tay and North Sea.

Below this level we tucked away the more utilitarian rooms, as well as a wine cellar. These are hidden within the solid vaulted basement which supports the piano noble.

The vast roof space is now home to a games room for both children and the young-at-heart. There is also private-stair access to a separate master bedroom suite, boasting the absolute best of the views.

 

Success of the project

The project is still in development, but is likely to be a hugely successful addition to this estate, providing an exceptional home for the client. Although the project has to compete with and complement the complicated geometry and forms of existing buildings in the estate, we feel that the design manages to rebalance the hierarchy, returning the main house to its place as the heart of the complex. It is a dream home, which will enable the client to live the lifestyle they are seeking, full of comfort, light and plenty of space to entertain.