Set in a picturesque wooded spot near a National Park loch, this project is for a 2-storey, double-pitched newbuild traditional Scottish cottage-style home, that will sit in harmony with its surroundings. There is currently a 1980s bungalow on the site, but it was built to poor construction standards, and has exceeded its intended lifespan with a number of fabric failings evident, including bowed roof and subsidence. The plan is to demolish this and create a home of a much higher build-standard about two metres further up, to avoid any possibility of flooding from a neighbouring burn. The new property is designed to exacting ecological and sustainability measures, with energy-efficient systems, and will stand the test of time with far greater robustness, providing a warm, inviting, and spacious forever home for its owners. The house will have 3 upstairs bedrooms all with designed-in dressing space, and an en-suite for the master, as well as a large study and downstairs spare bedroom also with ensuite. The main living area will be open plan, and make the most of natural light for the zoned kitchen, sitting, and dining spaces. A new barn is also planned at the rear of the plot. The client has a keen understanding of rural affairs and will manage the surrounding land with informed skill, including areas within a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Equipment required for this will be housed in the metal-clad barn.
Materials are a simple and natural palette of render, stone, and slate. Having stone cladding to the central portion off-sets the render elsewhere. Details such as a stone base course, stone quoins, stone window surrounds, and canopies over entrances help further with enhancing the visual quality of the mostly symmetrical design. Aluminium-clad timber framed windows will offer robust weather protection and fit the aesthetic. Our energy-efficient design combines an efficient floor plan, the orientation on site to benefit from solar gains, natural shelter, protection from overheating, and high levels of thermal insulation and very low levels of thermal bridging. Additionally, a whole-house mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery for improved ventilation and air quality is included in the design. Air-source heat pump technology provides the necessary warmth, and an efficient wood burning stove in the lounge area offers a secondary heat source but is mostly for additional comfort and atmosphere. As with all our designs, the house will flow naturally, allowing plenty of circulation space, with considerable natural light. The aim is to provide a feeling of airiness and comfort, with an ever-present connection with the outdoors.
This project will add an attractive and appropriate dwelling to the setting, chiming with nearby houses also set within mature greenery. It will provide a comfortable, spacious, and eco-friendly home for its owners, and offer a seamless connection with the rural beauty on its doorstep. The new house will enhance this site. Key considerations for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park are our improvement of the current drainage strategy of the site. And, as an extension of this, the health of the local SSSI is a key priority, as is that our design creates an energy-efficient, durable, and beautiful piece of architecture.
Do you have a specific project idea that you’ve been thinking about? Feel free to reach out to us today, and we can initiate a conversation on how our services can assist you in bringing your vision to life.
