Architecture17 by Peebles Media Group

architecture

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Contents

McInnes Gardner

Ian MacDonald Architecture

Roderick James Architects

David Blaikie Architects

Moxon

ataSTUDIO

JAMstudio

Fearn MacPherson

Paper Igloo Architecture + Design

Organic Architects

Ewan Cameron Architects

Denholm Partnership

Donald Bentley Architect

Hazel J L Smith

Bobby Halliday Architects

Chartered Architect

Oliver & Robb Architects

Groves-Raines Architects

Cameron Webster Architects

NVDC

Helen Lucas Architects Ltd

inkdesign

Faed Browne Architects

Chartered Architects

architecture17 Editor Gillian Welsh Contributor Judy Diamond Designer Katie White Published by Peebles Media Group Ltd ÂŠ Peebles Media Group, 2017

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architecture17

elcome

to the first issue of architecture17, a new publication free with the July/August edition of Homes & Interiors Scotland. In it, more than twenty of the country’s best architecture practices tell us about their specialisms, their awards and the motivations, as they detail some of their most interesting and challenging recent commissions. It’s an inspiring read as well as an informative one. Despite the economic downturn and a period of political uncertainty, architecture in Scotland has remained creative, vibrant and ever-evolving, with a steady stream of brilliantly designed private homes and public buildings. Practices both well established and brand new are embracing the latest eco-friendly technology to create highly insulated, green energy-powered homes based on Passivhaus principles. It’s an exciting development that shows what could be the future direction for house-building in Scotland. Studios are also making use of new design tools to allow 3D modelling of their proposals, making it easier than ever for their clients to visualise possible additions, alterations and transformations to their homes. And, of course, the client is at the heart of all these positive changes. Without homeowners being willing to put their trust in architects, none of this would be possible. If you’re considering making changes to your home, or would like to build something entirely new, Scotland’s architects are at your service. Their unrivalled creativity, imaginative solutions and technical skills will make life, and living, better. Editor, Gillian Welsh

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McInnes Gardner

cInnes Gardner & Partners Chartered Architects was founded in 1910, which makes it one of the longest established practices in the country. Initially its work was in the commercial sector, designing buildings for banking and insurance companies. Between the 1930s and the 1960s it built an international reputation for the interior design and fitting out of many of the world’s greatest liners, including the Mauritania, the Lusitania, the Queen Mary and the Canberra. Towards the end of this period the firm was appointed to fit out the interiors of the royal yacht Britannia. In the 1970s the firm returned to work largely in the commercial and leisure sectors, collaborating extensively with some of the world’s largest oil companies and hotel groups, completing the Shell HQ in Aberdeen and the Sheraton in Alexandria, Egypt, for example. More recently, with Alastair MacIntyre and a design-focused team drawing on its illustrious history, the firm energetically works to continue the story of design excellence. While still active in the commercial and leisure sectors, the practice has acquired a substantial reputation in the dynamic world of one-off house design, with many of its projects receiving recognition nationally and internationally. The firm’s design ethos has always been to carefully listen to clients, seek to bring maximum value to • McInnes Gardner & Partners Architects 7 Lynedoch Crescent Glasgow G3 6DZ 0141 332 3841 am@mcinnesgardner.co.uk www.mcinnesgardner.co.uk

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RHU HOUSE An internationally awarded and much publicised design for the conversion of a 1970s split-level house. A minimalist vision of striking geometry on a hillside overlooking the Gareloch, it featured many bespoke designs for the interior, along with extensive use of innovative materials on the exterior. ALASTAIR MACINTYRE

WOODHEAD HOUSE An award-winning hilltop home that combines notes of Frank Lloyd Wright with Palladian proportions. The plans incorporated bespoke designs for the furniture and fittings as well as the stair, floors and ceilings.

“The practice has a substantial reputation in the dynamic world of one-oﬀ house design”

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“We seek to bring maximum value to every project, combining light and colour with elegant elevations”

• every project, and combine internal space, light and colour with elegant external elevations. Integration of the latest energy management systems, sustainable building techniques and smart technologies create homes for effortless modern living. McInnes Gardner’s services include building design, interior design, cost modelling and management, tender and contract management, site supervision and any combination of the above.

OVERALL AWARD WINNER 2014

ArcHOUSE This is a staggered three-storey house features an arched SIP roof and the latest energy management systems. It is the intended prototype for a new generation of garden cities planned around London, and the winning entry in the Sunday Times, Future Homes for Britain competition.

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McInnes Gardner

LOCH AWE HOUSE A house on a hillside that maximises the views over the loch and the panorama beyond. It has extensive glazing around the main living space at the entry level, with the bedrooms beneath. A steel frame structure supports soaring roofs that provide covered external spaces to the east and west. The design won many awards, including the overall winner of the Daily Telegraphâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home of the Year, 2014.

THE LOCH HOUSE This well-known house was featured on Grand Designs in what became one of the programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular and repeated episodes. Many people still enquire how the glass staircase was achieved. The planners curtailed the external design but the interiors remain its strength.

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Roderick James Architects

ver the last 30 years Roderick James Architects has become the leading architectural practice specialising in the design of structural timber-frame buildings in the UK. It has successfully worked on Scottish projects from its Morvern office for the last 15 years, and due to an expanding Scottish workload, a new office in Hope Street Glasgow is due to open. The practice is currently designing, detailing or completing more than 60 individual new houses in addition to several school buildings, a country hotel, several visitor centres, restaurants, and around 50 substantial extensions. It’s also actively involved with affordable housing projects with its R-Affordable House kit. Founding partner Roderick James established himself as a leading timberframe architect in 1987 and has been at the forefront of the industry since, renovating, converting and building countless homes. The practice has worked with all leading carpentry companies in the past, and this experience enables it to work closely with clients on their designs to develop ideas and realise their potential. “We design warm, friendly, light, textural buildings with dramatic spaces,” says Roderick. “Although our practice is rooted in the traditions of the past, we also use contemporary materials in innovative and exciting ways. We look for simple, cost-effective solutions that combine quality with local craftsmanship, resisting expensive purpose-made components wherever possible. •

Roderick James Architects LLP 01803 868000 www.roderickjamesarchitects.co.uk

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TIGH DARACH HOUSE This prototype version of the expandable Evolution house concept was built by Roderick James himself on the west coast of Scotland at Morvern. The house is constructed using a structural green oak frame with exposed, painted softwood floor joists and rafters. This creates a visually interesting palette of materials and interior spaces with charm and interest. The Evolution house concept is to build houses that can be adapted easily to suit the changing requirements of the owners (for example, young families with growing children, or additional ground-floor rooms for elderly relatives). The structural timber frame enables walls to be put up and taken down relatively painlessly to alter the internal layout to suit. The corner verandas create intimate sitting areas, where you can always find a quiet space to sit protected from the weather. It is possible to book a stay in this amazing house through www.airbnb.co.uk

“Although our practice is rooted in the traditions of the past, we also use

contemporary materials in innovative and exciting ways”

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• “We have great experience of working with specialist suppliers of timber frames, structurally insulated panel systems, breathing construction and renewable energy systems and can advise you accordingly on your project.” As well as their offices in Scotland, the practice also offers its services across the UK, with offices in Devon, Wiltshire and London. In the last ten years it has achieved over 400 successful planning consents for both contemporary and traditional buildings. At the same time, it has won 25 regional and national awards, and its projects have featured in more than 15 TV shows, including twice on Grand Designs. “Versatility is a key advantage of timber framing, with flexibility over window positions, cladding material, walls, floors and roofs,” says Roderick. “It is ideal for extensions or outbuildings and can help buildings to fit unobtrusively into their surroundings.” As well as timber frames, the practice also produces more contemporary designs, using stainless steel, simpler framing, marine architecture, ‘loft’-style homes, curved roofs and so on. This is in addition to embracing modern construction techniques and creating cleaner, crisper, more contemporary interiors. “We are able to provide full or partial architectural services. Some clients are self-builders and just need an architect; others have plans and need us to point them in the right direction. Some only need an erected shell. We will establish the level of service you want from us, whether it’s our normal service of sketch scheme, design, planning and building regulations; or maybe full working drawings and architects’ certificate. We are very flexible in our approach and will provide the minimum service that meets your needs, to keep the fees down. “Building a house will have moments of frustration but it will also be one of the most exciting and fulfilling projects you ever undertake. We will be there to help you achieve it.”

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Roderick James Architects

SCOTTISH ESCAPES

Above: An aluminium living pod, which can be used as permanent living space or temporary accommodation. It can be dismantled and relocated if desired. Right: A 6m x 6m timber-frame bothy, with an open-plan living area and a log burner. The walls are clad in Douglas fir weatherboarding and the roof is finished with Western red cedar shingles.

“Building a house will have moments of frustration but it will also be one of the most fulﬁlling projects you ever undertake”

BOYDEN HOUSE This exciting curved contemporary oak-frame house in the Highlands forms part of the Achabeag sustainable housing development. The house curves to face the dramatic views of the Sound of Mull and is constructed from a structural green oak frame with hemp insulation-filled wall and roof panels and sedum roofs. The owners wanted a single-storey house suitable for semi-retirement and beyond. The open-plan layout maximises space and views, and they have found the house to be very comfortable and suitable for their lifestyle: “It feels like an active house – the flow of the layout and all the windows make it feel very dynamic.”

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Moxon

ince the practice was founded in 2004, Moxon’s combination of design excellence, technical talent and commitment to faultless delivery has had impressive results. It has designed across commercial, residential and local-authority sectors for clients that include Transport for London and the City of Westminster. The common threads are bold vision and versatility, as director Ben Addy explains: “We approach each project with fresh eyes, first understanding the needs and ambitions of our client, and then striving to elevate them. The result is distinctly individual work, clear in its purpose and appropriate to its context.” The practice has offices in London and Aberdeenshire, where it strives to produce work that is economically responsible, environmentally appropriate and spatially elegant. “We pride ourselves on a diverse team that allows us to provide multi-disciplinary solutions for clients in any category – commercial, residential, product design or public. Throughout, we stay committed to sustainability and beauty.” Moxon Ardoch, Crathie, Ballater Aberdeenshire AB35 5UN 013397 42047 201-202 Great Western Studios 65 Alfred Road London W2 5EU 020 7034 0088 www.moxonarchitects.com

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CHEPSTOW PLACE Comprising the restoration, reordering and sub-ground extension of a mid-terrace building in Notting Hill, this project is a family home that provides a series of distinctive interior and exterior volumes behind a retained façade. The lower-ground level is extended below ground level, with a new garden ringed by skylights above. The floor surface of this lower level steps down to the rear of the property, which in combination with natural lighting defines a sequence of progressively more intimate spaces.

“We approach each project with fresh eyes… The result is distinctly individual work, clear in its purpose and appropriate to its context”

•

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“The result is an expansive, open-plan space that greets its unique garden space with open arms through uninterrupted views”

•

DALEHAM MEWS With a plan to more than double the floor space of a compact family home in central London, Moxon extended the rear of the brick-façade mews building with a glass addition, framed in black rubber. At ground floor, this allows the home to open up to its outdoor space. The first floor, conversely, is wrapped in a red cedar brise-soleil, covering both the glass and also some retained brickwork. Inhibiting solar gain in the summer and providing some privacy from neighbours, the horizontal wood slats more importantly help to maintain a sense of compact domestic charm that is the soul and appeal of the mews style. With some of the brise-soleil cutting across windows, the resulting variation in pattern offers informality and also cleverly works to define and give substance to the glass railing of a Juliet balcony. Daleham Mews was a finalist for the Grand Designs Awards.

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FERN HOUSE A Victorian townhouse and a verdant, exotic garden of tree ferns and tropical palms: the question was how to connect these two potentially discordant spaces sensitively, while ensuring a bold visual impact befitting our client. This was achieved through a series full-height windows and skylights and by structural glazed links connecting new and original spaces of the house. At times, these windows fold over dimensions – merging wall and ceiling, or one aspect and another – reflecting the immersive appeal of the greenery that surrounds it. The result is an expansive, open-plan space that maximises natural light levels throughout the ground floor, and which greets its unique garden space with open arms through uninterrupted views. The rear patio space was kept deliberately shallow to allow the tropical foliage to grow in close proximity to the house, helping to create a dialogue between the home and its garden. Level access to the garden reinforces the fluidity of the transition between indoor and outdoor. The bespoke weathered steel cladding panels applied to both the rear and side extensions create an ever-evolving and contrasting backdrop to the ferns, the rusty tones complementing both the original Victorian brickwork and the new aluminium-framed glazing. The vertical alignment of the narrow steel planks accentuates the extension’s height and provides a unique modular format reflective of the project’s scale. A new large underground water butt collects the rainwater from the extensions, the existing roof and the new patio spaces, providing the primary source for watering the garden.

Moxon

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•

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ABOOTSROOD Located on a steep-sided natural level overlooking the River Dee, this private home is designed to melt into its forest surroundings so as not to be seen from afar. The owner is an ecological scientist, and so the home’s visual impact, its construction materials and their provenance, and its energy use all fundamentally shaped the building’s design. The aim was to make it feel as natural and as steeped in the site as possible. The geometry of the pitched roof is marked by a pronounced skew, meaning it creates a lofty interior along the centre line of the house, but with an overall form that sinks much lower to the ground at the diagonally opposed corners. The house is anchored around a two-storey granite pillar that is situated behind large south-facing windows and contains the fireplace and hot-water system – the granite mass forms a large passively and actively heated ‘thermal battery’ in the centre of the home.

Moxon

CULARDOCH SHIELING The shieling was commissioned as an escape, for small gatherings or parties, lunches or dinners, to be arranged around a long narrow table. It sits alone in the vast, rugged and windswept landscape of the Cairngorms, invisible from many directions thanks to the undulating topography. Located at the foot of Culardoch, and looking out across the remote expanse of upper Glen Gairn, it plays simultaneously off the informality and romanticism of a Scottish hillwalkers’ ‘howff’, farmer’s shieling or Swiss alpine shack, and the humanism and cleanliness of 20th-century modernists such as Aalto. Its windows appear haphazardly placed – varying in size and orientation. In fact, they carefully let in the right amount of light and view while maintaining an enveloping sense of seclusion and security. From a seat at the end of the table, the view through each window frames a specific aspect of the landscape: a bend in the River Gairn; the grassy flood plain; the water of Allt Bad a’Mhonaich tumbling down the side of Ben Avon; the massive granite tors on the summit plateau. The exterior and interior of the building are both clad in wood, with the overhanging eaves of its cruck frame roof dipping low, and the roof itself covered in heather, moss and stone. It is intended to be both humble and casual, but also precise, playful and sophisticated.

“It is intended to be both humble and casual, but also precise, playful and sophisticated”

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JAMstudio

et up 14 years ago in north-east Scotland by Marie-Louise Dunk and John Wingate, JAMstudio has won praise and prizes for its innovative, design-led work. “Our design philosophy is simple,” says Dunk. “We look to create simple and elegant shapes, incorporating technologically advanced materials wherever possible, that provide functional and comfortable spaces, often with a splash of strong colour, so our clients get rooms they love in attractive buildings they adore. This leads to a good variation in the individual aesthetic of each project.” The practice’s diverse commissions have ranged from a tiny fishing cottage to the complete renovation of a house in Aberdeen’s prestigious Rubislaw Den South, as well as one-off new-build homes and large conversions. Many incorporate new technologies for energy creation, including biomass heating and solar panels, culminating in the design and realisation of a house in Royal Deeside that creates more energy than it uses. “Our most successful projects have been for open-minded flexible clients, who allow us a degree of room for manoeuvre in the interpretation of their individual briefs. Their trust and confidence in us has been central to being able to deliver them some greatlooking buildings over the years.”

“We look to give our clients rooms they love in attractive buildings they adore”

JAMstudio Country Office: The Steading at Moss Side, Fetternear, Inverurie, AB51 5JX City Office: 5 Golden Square, Aberdeen AB10 1RD 01224 646450 or 01467643178 07768 166 974 (try office first) Twitter: @jamstudio_ltd www.jamstudio.uk.com

BEACONSFIELD ROAD, ABERDEEN Set in a conservation area in the heart of Aberdeen’s prestigious West End, this deceptively spacious extension provided our clients with the open plan entertaining space they had always wanted, with generous amounts of natural light.

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NEW HOUSE AT AUCHRONIE At the heart of the house is a feature helical curved stair with no central column that provides an extra “wow” factor in an already spectacular double-height top lit entrance hall.

•

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• ROYAL DEESIDE “The purchase of a greenfield site in the heart of Royal Deeside provided our clients with the opportunity to create the house of their dreams,” says Marie-Louise Dunk. “Our design combines vernacular details with modern construction methods. Having approached us in late 2011, the project was completed in October 2013.” As well as being super insulated, the house has pellet based biomass heating, and an impressive 4Kw solar array hidden discreetly at bottom of the garden.

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JAMstudio

“Our most successful projects have been for openminded ﬂexible clients who allow us a degree of room”

RUBILSAW DEN EXTENSION Our clients had always aimed to have a house on “The Den” in Aberdeen, and when they were finally lucky enough to be able to find one up for sale, they were thrilled. However, it had suffered some very unsympathetic alterations and our clients were keen to reinstate a more traditional look to the rear of the house, whilst taking the opportunity to create a large open-plan family orientated kitchen and living space.

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Paper Igloo Architecture + Design

aper Igloo is a young, vibrant and awardwinning architectural practice specialising in high-quality residential design. Mhairi Grant and Martin McCrae established the practice in 2006, and since then it has gone from strength to strength by maintaining meticulous attention to detail and focusing on meeting each client’s brief. Paper Igloo works on many types of project, from extensions and refurbishments of historic buildings to individual bespoke houses (such as the awardwinning Old Farmhouse project shown here, which won the Saltire Award for the Best Housing Project in 2015) as well as larger-scale multi-unit schemes (such as the exemplary low-energy Hamilton development also shown here). “We believe there is no limit to the influence good design can have on your quality of life, and we work hard to bring this to every project, irrespective of scale,” they say. “Fantastic architecture should permeate every aspect of your daily life – the spaces in which we all live and work should be sensory, exciting, inspiring and imaginative.” Paper Igloo seeks to bring appropriate aspects of low-energy design to many projects. Mhairi Grant is a certified Passivhaus designer, meaning the practice can offer a multitude of energybased services, many of which can ease the technical Building Warrant process. “Above all,” they say, “good design is at the heart of every Paper Igloo project.” Paper Igloo Architecture + Design Ostro, Fintry Road, Kippen FK8 3HL 01786 870539 info@paperigloo.com www.paperigloo.com

“The spaces in which we live and work should be sensory, exciting, inspiring and imaginative” 24

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RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS Far left and below: An 1868 farmhouse was converted into a dramatic double-height space: “Site specific conditions are embraced: a 100-year-old apple tree is retained - the new building simply wraps around it. Sharp, contemporary detailing is combined with subtle references to the local vernacular.” Left: This scheme is for three new-build houses in Hamilton which are aiming for Passivhaus certification: “Careful positioning of windows creates a feeling of privacy within each dwelling, while maximising the orientation and aspect.”

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Organic Architects

rganic Architects is an established architectural practice based in Helensburgh whose aim is to transform each project into a living space that has a distinct presence in its local environment. Gareth Roberts and Andrea Wise combine their commercial experience and technical awareness with an understanding of time-honoured building techniques to craft beautiful, light-filled and efficient homes. “We go on a journey with our clients and aim to surprise and delight them as the design develops,” they say. “The end product should be beautiful, functional, sustainable and exceed expectations.” As the practice’s name suggests, the pair champion sustainable buildings: “Whether we are creating a tranquil retreat on Skye, a listed building conversion on the Clyde, or apartments in the Edinburgh New Town, what underpins our work is our passion to design buildings that exude quality. Our work makes the most of the opportunities of every site and seamlessly blends into the natural beauty of the landscape.” Organic’s service is dedicated to being open, available and imaginative with clients from the first meeting and throughout the design process until completion. “The buildings we design are imbued with the spirit of our clients. You will see your own personality and purpose reflected in the work we do with you.”

Organic Architects 140 West Princes Street Helensburgh G84 8BH 01436 670922 info@organicarchitects.co.uk www.organicarchitects.co.uk

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RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

Right: This project involved the total renovation and extension of a listed townhouse and the restoration of the house’s stained-glass windows. Below: Attention to detail on the doors. Bottom: A classic Skye long house was designed with a delightful twist – a vaulted open interior with a 6m-wide picture window looking over to the silver sands of Arisaig. Below right: This sandstone villa in the Upper Helensburgh conservation area has been given a contemporary extension.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We go on a journey with our clients and aim to surprise and delight them as the design developsâ&#x20AC;?

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stablished by Jimmy Denholm in 1988, this busy practice has become well known and respected in Perthshire and beyond. Most of the team have been part of the practice for a number of years and their combined experience brings a continuity of philosophy and approach to every project being worked on. The main focus of the Denholm Partnership’s work has been private bespoke houses for individual clients, but the practice has also worked on a number of large hotel and leisure projects and country estates. Many clients have returned with further commissions over the past 30 years. The Denholm Partnership’s aim is to make people feel comfortable and happy in the space where they live. “What we do centres on building good relationships,” says Jimmy Denholm. “We work closely with clients, contractors, planners and with each other to design buildings that are achievable and appropriate, that are inspirational but look effortless. Our work should generate a sense of longevity so that it can evolve and get even better over time.” People, location, light, colour, scale and balance are all cited as sources of inspiration. “We are fortunate to work in a beautiful part of Scotland, among mountains, lochs and rivers, all of •

Denholm Partnership LLP 11 Dunira Street, Comrie Perthshire PH6 2LJ 01764 670899 admin@james-denholm.co.uk www.denholmpartnership.co.uk

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PHOTOGRAPH: GREG CARTER

Denholm Partnership

PRIVATE HOUSE, DUNBLANE This family home was designed to make the most of its stunning location overlooking Dunblane. The main living spaces open up to the garden and views beyond, bringing the outside and daylight in all year round. Covered verandas and entrance areas not only provide shelter from the climate but allow the family to make use of the outdoor spaces as an extension of the house. The exterior materials, which reflect the rural setting, are a traditional mix of stone, timber and slate, all of which are robust enough to deal with the site’s exposure and to stand the test of time in terms of maintenance as well as design.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we do centres on building good relationships. We work closely with clients to design inspirational buildingsâ&#x20AC;?

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Our approach is never formulaic. We use a sometimes surprising mix of elements, but the outcome is always entirely fresh”

• which inspire our designs to respond to their natural settings, optimising views, topography and orientation, and by using materials to create buildings that truly fit into their landscape.” Challenges, whether as a result of the brief or the budget, are expected – even welcomed. “Rather than seeing any of these as obstacles, we see them as opportunities to explore ideas more fully and to think more creatively in order to come up with imaginative solutions,” says Denholm. “Overcoming challenges can be one of the most satisfying elements of the job. We also listen well and ask lots of questions – understanding the client and really getting to grips with their ideas and how they live is our starting point.” Whether remodelling an existing property or building something completely new, the practice tries hard not to impose a ‘style’. “Rather, our work has an identity and a character that has become synonymous with quality. Our approach is never formulaic. We use a sometimes surprising mix of elements, but the outcome is always entirely fresh.”

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Denholm Partnership

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PRIVATE HOUSE, GLENEAGLES Open-plan living, lots of natural light and ‘uncluttered’ clean lines were key in the client’s brief for this six-bedroom family home near Gleneagles. Set amid neighbouring properties, the house has a formal entrance face to the street with a more relaxed, open southfacing elevation to the rear garden which overlooks the Queen’s Course. The double-height entrance hall features a curved stair to the upper floor and double-sided fireplace, giving views through to the dining space beyond. The open-plan dining space, kitchen and sitting room are the heart of the house and are designed to open directly onto the garden to allow the family to come and go between the house and garden with ease. In keeping with the brief and setting, the exterior materials are a simple palette of high-quality materials – ashlar cut stone and selfcleaning white render. The windows and doors have a slimline frame and no astragals in order to maximise the light and maintain the ‘uncluttered’ look of the design.

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Denholm Partnership

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Hazel J L Smith Chartered Architect

Hazel J L Smith Chartered Architect Corwar Outon Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire DG8 8DJ 01988 500287 07876 032485 hazelsmith.architect@gmail.com www.hazelsmitharchitect.co.uk

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WOODSIDE AT WIGTOWN Several garden room extensions have been undertaken in a more modern style. Woodside at Wigtown was shortlisted by the Glasgow Institute of Architects and was required as clients retired and their needs changed. Rationalising the ground floor layout by creating a better flow of space and providing downstairs bedroom and bathroom facilities. An extension to the rear was created linking the house with the garden and allowing light to penetrate the plan whilst maximising the views across the countryside. A steel structure and overhanging zinc roof provided the modern feel and allowed for large areas of glazing and folding doors allowing the new room to open out fully onto the balcony. By using clean lines and controlling the number of materials used an elegant extension was created against the backdrop of the B-listed building.

“Hazel provides an eﬃcient, personal, service by utilising creative design solutions”

IMAGE: ALAN LOVE FITSTHEPICTURE.COM

s a sole practitioner, Hazel J. L. Smith aims to provide an efficient, high-quality personal service by utilising creative design solutions for urban and rural situations. By working closely with her clients, she ascertains their brief, budget and timescale and fully understands the context of the site. Established in 2009 in south-west Scotland, the practice undertakes a wide variety of work, including farm buildings and steading conversions, ecclesiastical work, extensions, conversions and refurbishments of residential properties, listed buildings and preparation of title/ deed plans for solicitors, as well as project-managing the construction of new playparks for community groups. Having grown up on a farm (and married a farmer), she has a unique insight into the farming community, and has undertaken many slurry pits and lagoons, silage pits and agricultural buildings for local farmers. She has also taken on some very interesting and challenging projects, such as the one pictured here, when she was approached by the Whithorn Trust to build a reconstruction of an Iron Age roundhouse based on 2500-year-old archaeological remains. “Hazel guided this very complex project through to successful and magnificent completion,” says the Trust’s Julia Muir Watt. “This is our second commission to Hazel and we’d do it again.”

IMAGE: HAZEL J L SMITH

WHITHORN ROUNDHOUSE The site on which this ancient roundhouse was reconstructed is a scheduled monument so the design team and contractors had to overcome many regulations and restrictions. Materials to build the 9m high by 13.2m diameter structure, including timber and clay, were sourced locally. Volunteers stripped back the bark and helped weave the wattle panels. The project was brought in on time and budget. “Hazel was on site daily and her enthusiasm for the project and willingness to observe our often very tight deadlines for submissions were what kept the project on track,” says The Whithorn Trust’s Julia Muir Watt.

IMAGE: HAZEL J L SMITH

IMAGES: HAZEL J L SMITH

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Groves-Raines Architects

roves-Raines Architects is an awardwinning conservationaccredited architectural practice based in Edinburgh, dedicated to the regeneration and sustainable reuse of historic buildings. Established in 1972, the practice has been at the forefront of restoration in the UK and beyond for over 45 years. Winners of the Sunday Times British Homes Award for Restoration 2016, Groves-Raines Architects Ltd has contributed to securing the future of some of the finest examples of built heritage in the country, saving numerous A-Listed castles, churches and fortified houses from dereliction. Whether it is the restoration of a country house, modernisation of a townhouse, regeneration of a farm steading or conservation of a listed tower house, the team of experienced architects at Groves-Raines approach every project with enthusiasm and a desire to exceed client expectation.

Groves-Raines Architects Ltd 11 Water’s Close Edinburgh EH6 6DE 0131 467 7777 practice@grovesraines.com www.grovesraines.com GRAS Details as above practice@gras.co www.gras.co

LAMB’S HOUSE, EDINBURGH Top: Built around 1610, Lamb’s House is one of the finest surviving examples of a Hanseatic merchant’s house in Scotland. The restoration project by Groves-Raines Architects won several prestigious awards.

KILLIEHUNTLY FARMHOUSE, CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK Below: 19th century Killiehuntly Farmhouse, part of the rural Killiehuntly Estate in the Cairgorms National Park, was carefully restored with the use of local, natural materials and traditional skills. The interiors have been sensitively upgraded for contemporary living, whilst retaining historic architectural features and character throughout.

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“GRAS exists to create extraordinary places through the exploration of ideas, materials, techniques and technologies” “Groves-Raines Architects Ltd. has contributed to securing the future of some of the ﬁnest examples of built heritage in the country”

GRAS Established as part of Groves-Raines Architects, GRAS is an architecture and design practice based in Scotland. Described by the RIBA as an outstanding emerging practice, GRAS exists to create extraordinary things and places through the exploration of ideas, materials, techniques and technologies. Its team of architects immerse themselves in the process to understand the client’s needs, the biggest challenges and the greatest opportunities to maximise the potential in any project. Using innovative and efficient working practices, they seek to take their clients on a journey of exploration and discovery, while managing the process so that it can be as exciting and enjoyable as the result. GRAS looks to push the boundaries of what is typically understood as architecture, often entering the fields of product design, graphics, audiovisual and art.

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NVDC

ased in Glasgow, NVDC is an innovative practice focused on the creation of striking contemporary spaces and exceptional architectural solutions. The small, friendly, responsive team is led by chartered architect Farahbod Nakhaei, and offers established expertise in new-build, remodelling and extensions. The practice evolved from the designled property development company NV Properties, established in 1997. “Creating contemporary homes characterised by striking spaces and family-focused living is our passion,” says Nakhaei. “We aim to make design work harder to deliver homes that are genuinely life-enhancing. “We care about what we do, from inspirational design to staying within budget, and we believe our attention to detail is exemplary. Our ethos is to maximise the potential of any project – and we do that by listening to you. “We’re committed to design excellence and bring an imaginative approach to every project,” says Nakhaei. “Please call us for a free, no-obligation discussion of your project. We look forward to hearing from you.”

GRANGE AVENUE An existing 1960s flat-roofed extension on a building in Grange Avenue, Milngavie, was transformed into a contemporary two-storey family home. To maximise indoor-outdoor family living, the open-plan kitchen-diner was placed on the first floor with a link bridge connecting it to the garden. The separate lounge is also on this floor to take advantage of the surrounding views. A light-filled hallway links the upper and lower floors, while crisp detailing throughout makes this a highly distinctive home.

NVDC Bradbury House 10 High Craighall Road Glasgow G4 9UD 0141 959 8752 enquiries@nvdc.co.uk www.nvdc.co.uk

“We are committed to design excellence and bring an imaginative approach to every project” 38

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KILMARDINNY CRESCENT Two light-filled homes, full of sharp design detailing and beautiful spaces that maximise the connection between inside and out, were built for a client at Kilmardinny Crescent in Bearsden. These family-focused homes combine open-plan living with thoughtful design for modern needs. Each has four bedrooms, a separate reception room, patio doors to the garden and hall space designed to enhance not just connect. The aim was to create homes that offer flexibility coupled with high style and distinctive looks. Dr and Mrs Th’ng who bought one of the homes were delighted to find such a distinctive property: “I know it sounds like a funny thing to say, but living here we feel as if we’re on holiday all the time! It’s such a relaxing house to be in; the proportions of the rooms, the light and airy feel, the design dynamic that maximises the views to the outside, all combine to make this such a lovely property. We have quite exacting standards but the attention to detail here is exceptional. We didn’t think it was possible to find a house like this.”

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NVDC

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The proportions of the rooms, the airy feel and the design dynamic that maximises the views all combine to make this such a lovely propertyâ&#x20AC;?

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inkdesign

lasgow-based inkdesign is an architectural practice known for their personal approach. The RIAS Chartered Practice provides innovative design solutions for residential, commercial and community architecture across Scotland and beyond. The studio’s eight-strong team comprises architects, architectural assistants and administrators, with specialists in 3D visualisation, building information modelling and ecological design. Collaboration plays an important role in the studio, with designs receiving input and technical support from all eight members. The team has many years of experience in residential design, specifically in renovations, extensions and new-build construction, and is expanding into commercial and community-based architecture. “Quality of space and light are the key aims when we are designing a house, and the spatial experience for the end user is the main driver,” reveals Managing Director Maurice Hickey. “The language of the exterior architecture is determined by our discussions with the client and we develop this with them to meet their design aspirations and suit the site. The client is at the heart of the design process and everything we do – we listen to their thoughts and ideas and through this conversation develop • Inkdesign Architecture Unit 1, The Briggait 141 Bridgegate Glasgow G1 5HZ 0141 552 2729 info@inkdesign.co.uk www.inkdesign.co.uk

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GLENPARK AVENUE A two-storey extension, to a suburban detached property in Giffnock, Glasgow, providing a kitchen and dining mezzanine with a doubleheight living space opening on to the rear terrace and garden.

ROWAND AVENUE Another two-storey extension to a semi-detached suburban property in Giffnock, Glasgow. Here, the upstairs hallway overlooks the entrance. The exposed sandstone wall is the gable of the existing house.

BRODICK HOUSE A new-build home in a rural setting on the Isle of Arran. These are sketches from the design process, exploring the exterior in context and the open-plan living space.

THE RETREAT, KILCREGGAN An extension to a historic detached property in a conservation area in Kilcreggan, Argyll. A generously glazed studio space was created for the client, an artist, looking on to extensive gardens.

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• design solutions that both meet their needs and exceed their expectations.” Inkdesign is constantly researching, reviewing and discussing emerging trends across the fields of architecture. This includes urban, interior and product design, meaning that the team can have informed discussions with their clients and provide solutions that produce exciting buildings. The practice takes into account the unique brief and context of each project in the way it approaches the design. “We are inspired by the work of the modernists but also the work of contemporary architects,” says architect Carlo Guidi. The practice works out of a studio in the Old Fish Market at the Briggait. Being based in the heart of Glasgow’s creative quarter gives the team the opportunity to collaborate with artists, textile designers and furniture-makers, all of whom have contributed to bespoke design solutions. Co-founder Lisa Fugaccia explains “We also have a close relationship with the city’s schools of architecture that allows us direct access to the latest design talent. In fact, throughout the recent economic downturn and uncertainty, we have still been able to attract talented and award-winning staff. We’re looking forward to the next period as we have some exciting projects in development. We have a desire to continue to grow both our practice and our portfolio while maintaining the quality of our architecture. As our practice expands we hope to find larger premises that will allow us to maintain our collaborative working methods. We are investing in the future with BIM to allow us further expansion into non-domestic and commercial projects and we are committed to providing a creative, efficient and professional service.”

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CAMSTRADDEN DRIVE EAST Top: A development of three luxury new-build homes with an indoor swimming pool and spa facilities in the conservation area of Bearsden, Glasgow. The rear terraces face on to the garden. Above: The dining and living room on the entry level. Right: The downstairs master bedroom.

inkdesign

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The client is at the heart of the design process and everything we doâ&#x20AC;? EARLSPARK AVENUE Top: A single-storey extension to a semi-detached suburban property in Newlands, Glasgow. Glazed doors to the rear make the most of the views of the garden. Left: A design process sketch of the extension, investigating materiality. Below: The new living and dining room is filled with natural daylight.

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Ian MacDonald Architecture

an MacDonald Architecture is an award-winning practice based in Aberdeenshire. Founded in 2004, it has gained a reputation for excellence in design and service, providing bespoke architectural services throughout Scotland and further afield for private residential commissions, commercial developments and listed and conservation projects. “We pride ourselves on delivering innovative design solutions through good client consultation and attention to detail,” says principal Ian MacDonald. The practice has developed an extensive knowledge of sustainable materials and renewable technologies. Air and ground-source heat pumps, wind turbines, solar and PV panels and woodpellet-fired boilers have all been used on recent projects. “It means we’re in a great position to advise on the suitability of these technologies,” says Ian. By combining modern technology with a respect for the past, the practice offers solutions which complement the natural and built environments. “We love providing a well thought-out innovative design that sits naturally in its surroundings. However, our priority is to listen to the client; it’s fundamental that what we design becomes a home the client enjoys living in,” he says. “We’re proud that most of our work comes through recommendation or repeat clients. The strong working relationship we have with our clients has allowed us to deliver creative, visually striking, high-quality designs.”

Ian MacDonald Architecture Dalwhing Cottage, Glen Tanar, Aboyne Aberdeenshire AB34 5ET 013398 87017 info@mac.uk.net www.mac.uk.net

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WESTERTON WOOD Comments from Aberdeenshire Design Awards Panel: “A strong emphasis on sustainable principles with a combination of energy saving measures and locally sourced materials.” “A scheme which not only resonates in the quality of its execution but also makes a positive contribution to the wider environment and sets a benchmark for future projects within Aberdeenshire.”

“We pride ourselves on delivering innovative design solutions through good client consultation”

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David Blaikie Architects

ased in Edinburgh and focused on design, David Blaikie Architects produces award-winning projects across Scotland. The practice recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and continues to be listed among Urban Realm’s top 100 architects in Scotland. Over the years the practice has won a reputation both for sensitive conservation and adaptation of Edinburgh’s listed buildings and for strong contemporary architecture. “We work closely with our clients to provide imaginative solutions which reflect their ambitions and create beautiful quality, light-filled, restful spaces for families to live in,” says director David Blaikie. Experience gained across all areas of the residential sector has led to the practice winning Scotland’s most prestigious design awards, most recently the 2016 RIAS Award for Architecture. Daniel Masters is one client who has been impressed by the practice: “David and his team have a real expertise and a passion for combining innovative design with care for authentic period features, very good technical input and attention to detail. They were fantastic, very friendly and easy to work with, with great advice throughout the project and great transparency on cost and timelines. My family have moved in and are absolutely delighted with our new home – I would strongly recommend them,” he says. Sunlight, colour, texture, balance, sustainability and heritage are at the heart of every design: “Our work is honest, innovative and, we hope, surprising,” says Blaikie.

David Blaikie Architects 10 Deanhaugh Street Edinburgh EH4 1LY 0131 332 1133 studio@davidblaikiearchitects.com www.davidblaikiearchitects.com

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REMODEL AND EXTEND Above Left: East Claremont Street: this ‘glass box’ extension allows the new kitchen and dining spaces of this B-listed early Victorian townhouse to spill out into its small, enclosed, south-facing garden. Top right: India Street: careful detailing created a light-filled, restful bathroom as part of a top floor remodelled Georgian flat in Edinburgh’s New Town. This image: Gardiner Terrace: a dramatic, angular, glazed extension doubles the size of this small suburban house providing a generous space for a young family to grow up in

ataSTUDIO

taSTUDIO is a young design-led practice with a large portfolio of innovative and quirky projects, led by two architects who have experience of working with larger organisations and individual clients. “We believe we can provide a high-quality service to clients by remaining small and focused,” say directors Graeme and Hazel Andrew. “Seeing the potential, often where there seems to be none, is a quality we bring to our projects,” they add. “Our team provides excellent conceptual ideas backed up with a true understanding of building and site limitations.” The studio has successfully adapted to a wide range of commissions, with projects as diverse as a community centre in Neilston, numerous new-build site specific houses, a holiday apartment in Glasgow and a church in Paisley: “Site, context and orientation, combined with good briefing and a structural challenge, generate our ideas. We specialise in highly creative bespoke solutions, developing designs in collaboration with clients through the use of physical models at different scales.” As well as working together as architects, the couple have a young family so are well aware of the challenges their clients face in trying to create a family-friendly home. They plan to design and build a new house for their own family – “And as many new houses as we can for future clients.”

SOUTH LODGE, KILMACOLM (on site now, due for completion spring 2018) Replacing the owner’s poorly laid-out home, a new house is being built on this difficult plot. Split into three levels, it has bedrooms and entrance points on the lower-ground floor. The middle and larger ‘principal’ level of the house contains the living spaces and connects to the garden and view on three sides. The upper level, set back from the lower building edge, contains a small home office and bedroom.

ataSTUDIO 110 Brunswick Street, Glasgow G1 1FT 0141 572 0957 mail@atastudio.com www.atastudio.com

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Fearn Macpherson Chartered Architects

earn Macpherson Chartered Architects is a successful, dynamic and experienced practice based in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, providing architectural services and working on commissions throughout Scotland and across northern England. “We pride ourselves on working collaboratively with our clients in the design process and steering the project through each stage,” says director Robert Macpherson. “We achieve projects completed within budget, on time and sustainably to their bespoke requirements. The integrity of each building project is realised within the context of its own unique environment.” The practice has extensive experience in housing, agriculture, hotel, community spaces, energy provision, healthcare and education. “The variety of our work encompasses individual new houses, holiday homes and house group developments, estate and agricultural works, large and small house refurbishments, extensions and remodelling historic, listed and protected buildings.”

Fearn Macpherson Chartered Architects Unit 4 Dunkeld Road, Aberfeldy Perthshire PH15 2AQ 07791 564278 01887 820098 www.fearnmacpherson.com

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GARTH WOOD HOUSE Garth Wood House in Keltneyburn, Perthshire, is designed around a central library for the owners’ collection of 10,000 books. The core of the house, with stairs, library and individual rooms fanning out, is arranged on a north-south axis that leads from the dark forest to the rear out to the upstairs living quarters and balconies and their expansive open views.

“We pride ourselves on working collaboratively with our clients in the design process”

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VICTORIAN VILLA This project saw a sun-room extension added to a Victorian villa, along with major internal alterations to open up the existing internal rooms and back of the house. An open-plan family room, incorporating the kitchen, dining room and sun-room, was created. This has allowed the west-facing garden to become part of the living spaces of the house. The sunroom, to the south-west corner, has full-height glazing and a large roof light.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;An open-plan family room was created, allowing the westfacing garden to become part of the living spaces of the houseâ&#x20AC;?

LISTED REFURBISHMENT The refurbishment of a Grade-C listed property dating from 1840, this project required the matching of original detailing, including panelling. An extension was built and the rear of the property was opened up to create a family room, dining room and kitchen.

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Fearn Macpherson Chartered Architects

SHOOTING LODGE The redevelopment of a historically significant shooting lodge in Perthshire created ensuite bedrooms for 17 guests. The feeling of a family home has been retained while significantly increasing the amount of accommodation. Major internal partition amendments were made to rearrange the rooms, while heating and water systems, structure, thermal efficiency and decor were all improved. The renovations were completed within five months to ensure that no bookings were lost.

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Ewan Cameron Architects

wan Cameron Architects specialises in designing unique, sustainable homes for modern living. The firm prides itself on being a small practice that offers a tailored and personal approach from design concept to completion. Director Ewan Cameron works closely with clients to realise aspirations and add value, with beautifully resolved designs that exploit views and harness natural daylight, while optimising passive solar gain – heating naturally with the sun (he is an accredited Passivhaus designer). “Everything starts with seeing the potential of a site,” says Cameron. “The houses we design are all unique as they respond first to the site – we orientate the building for good natural light, solar gain and views.” Next, it is essential to compose a great plan for ease of living. Cameron uses his experience of over 20 years to compose rational and elegant plans in response to client needs, ensuring good flow of movement within spaces: “How light moves across a building at different times of day, the narrative and sequencing of daily activities, and making the most of views of the garden or landscape are some of the additional factors taken into careful consideration.” The architect will often do an initial sketch workshop with clients, designing and redesigning using simple pen and paper. Clients have spoken about how thrilled they are to see ideas come alive instantly. The designs are then worked up, reviewed and adjusted as 3D • Ewan Cameron Architects Glasgow office The Lighthouse Centre for Design 11 Mitchell Lane Glasgow G1 3NU 0141 244 0183 enquiries@ewancameronarchitects.com www.ewancameronarchitects.com

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“The houses we design are all unique as they respond ﬁrst to the site”

WALLED GARDEN VILLA, PERTHSHIRE An Edwardian walled garden was the inspiration behind this house. The orientation of the villa captures a large amount of natural light and reflects it throughout this four-bedroomed home. It consists of two interconnecting glass pavilions, one for living, one for sleeping, with a cloistered courtyard and large expanses of glass.

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“How light moves across a building at diﬀerent times of day is taken into careful consideration” • models. Animated walk-throughs

allow clients to get a good understanding of the spaces, to ensure their future home will work well for them. Each completed building has its own unique narrative, as Cameron explains: “In our award-winning Capel Manor House Pavilion, set in a garden estate in the Kentish Weald, two mirrored guest suites are divided by an open walkway which cuts through the building, allowing the pavilion itself to become a continuation of a walk through the gardens. “In our Roshven house high up on the west coast, overlooking the Islands of Eigg and Rhum, the building is bedded down into the rock face, allowing for a dramatic decking area, sheltered by the escarpment, with high views across the sea. This L-shaped building also forms a courtyard at the rear to provide a garden area, protected from sea winds.” In addition to working on projects across the UK, Cameron has led the design of award-winning projects internationally. He was responsible for the design of luxury villas on Hong Kong’s prestigious Peak and his designs for a residential, mixed development in Suzhou, China, led to an award from the American Institute of Architects. In 2005 he headed a Singapore-based team which won an international competition to design the headquarters for China Merchants Bank in Shanghai. Working and travelling throughout Asia, he experienced at first hand the compelling symbiosis of architecture and nature to be found in World Heritage Sites such as the temples of Kyoto and the gardens of Suzhou. He was keen to bring his international outlook on good design back to the beloved cities and incredible landscapes of his native Scotland, and established his own practice in 2009. Ewan Cameron Architects won a 2011 Glasgow Institute of Architects Award and was highly commended in the Architects Journal Small Projects 2012 Awards for its guest pavilion in Kent, which featured in the New York Times in April 2012.

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Ewan Cameron Architects

CAPEL MANOR GARDEN PAVILION, KENT Above: The design of this guest pavilion was inspired by visits to the temples and Zen gardens of Kyoto. An open walkway subdivides the accommodation, giving each bedroom suite complete privacy and linking the building with the landscape. The spine walls were cast in Beton Brut concrete. Their rough mass contrasts with the lighter glass and zinc elements, while the wood grain imprint left by the timber shutters echoes the surrounding woodland context.

WOODLAND VILLA, PERTHSHIRE Middle: Designed to be in harmony with its surroundings, this house consists of two large volumes, one in stone, the other in wood. The double-height space forms the main living area of the house, where glass panels and roof lights take in the full height of the trees outside, placing the resident at the heart of a wooded glade.

PRIVATE HOUSE, MOIDART Below: This L-shaped home is cut into the hillside, exposing the dramatic rocky escarpment it sits on. The one-storey building consists of a sleeping wing with views across Loch Ailort and a living wing that looks towards Eigg and Rhum. The majesty of the open sea views contrasts with the more intimate, sheltered courtyard area behind the house created by the two wings.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition to working on projects across the UK, Ewan Cameron has led the design of award-winning projects internationallyâ&#x20AC;? architecture17 57

Donald Bentley Architect

specialist boutique practice based in North Ayrshire and working across west and central Scotland, Donald Bentley Architect is focused on producing highquality bespoke designs for individual private clients and select commercial projects of interest. The practice is led by Donald Bentley, a chartered architect who qualified from the Royal College of Art 30 years ago. He has a wealth of experience in a wide variety of projects, from “wee buildings” to award-winning and innovative lowenergy corporate offices and specialist housing for retirement, and for several years has specialised in bespoke commissions for individual homes. He is also a certified Passivhaus designer, qualified in the design of exceptionally low-energy homes to the innovative and internationally recognised German standard. Clients get a dedicated service, with Bentley personally involved in all stages of the design and build process. He regularly works with a team of associated consultants providing structural engineering, building services, garden design and project costing. The practice takes a collaborative approach, listening to and working with clients to create design solutions that enhance life. “I spend a lot of time getting to know clients in order to understand their needs, their way of life and their aspirations for their home,” he says. In the pipeline are a group of low-energy new houses on Arran, a Passivhaus in Killearn and the conversion and internal refurbishment of a beautiful three-bedroom main-door apartment in Glasgow’s west end. “Every new project is an inspiring challenge,” says the architect. Donald Bentley Architect Taynish, Barrmill Road, Beith North Ayrshire studiobarc.org

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“I spend a lot of time getting to know clients in order to understand their aspirations for their home”

PASSIVHAUS, KILLEARN Currently under construction, this new-build in Stirlingshire is built to exacting Passivhaus standards. Above: The house overlooks a small wooded glen with views of the Campsie Fells. Left: The main living space will be flooded with natural light.

ARTS AND CRAFTS HOUSE, BEARSDEN Left: The client requested an extension that would blend with the unique style of the original house. Right: Beautifully crafted oak beams are an eye-catching feature of the extension, which is used as a family room. Below: The study is in the original part of house, which was fully restored to modern standards.

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Bobby Halliday Architects

ver three decades of refurbishments, remodelling and newbuild projects has given Bobby Halliday Architects a wealth of experience in dealing with every aspect of residential commissions. The firm’s founder, Bobby Halliday, is in his 30th year of private practice, and has assembled a talented and approachable team of designers who are committed to bringing projects in on time and on budget, without compromising on quality. From project inception through client wish list to completion, every design is carefully nurtured by the team, as client satisfaction and personal service are key components of the firm’s ethos: “We all share the same core values of understanding, integrity, enthusiasm, determination, drive and conviction, openness, honesty and fairness,” says Halliday. Design excellence, he believes, is achieved by analysing every parameter affecting the project, including financial, social and environmental factors. Understanding all of this inspires sitespecific solutions, while attention to detail shines through every project. It’s an approach that has won Halliday and his team many awards over the years across several different fields, from renovations to new developments. • Bobby Halliday Architects The Studio The Avenue Bridge of Allan Stirling FK9 4NR 01786 833338 info@bobbyhalliday.co.uk www.bobbyhalliday.co.uk

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“We share the same core values of integrity, enthusiasm, determination, openness, honesty and fairness”

THE COACH HOUSE, DUNBLANE A conversion and extension of an existing Coach House to form a new family home. The extension kinks the plan to turn away from the existing garden boundary. This created a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wedgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shaped, double height void between the existing building and new the extension offering a natural entrance. A large rooflight creates a glazed atrium styled space. A bridge crosses this space at the upper level, linking the old and the new.

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• The firm can skilfully refurbish

and remodel existing buildings as well as design extensions and new-build homes, and the team is passionate about researching historical buildings and transforming dilapidated properties into luxury dwellings. “Probably 95% of our work is residential,” says Halliday. “We sketch out our ideas on paper long before transferring them onto computer. It gives our concepts a chance to develop organically. “Most of our clients are gained through referral – if someone comes in contact with us, they do so for a reason. Recommendation is everything,” he adds. “We don’t deal in multi-million-pound projects, but we do get a complete crosssection of projects here, from a porch for a local resident all the way up to a farm steading renovation. It keeps things interesting – and the job satisfaction is better in what we do.” As a teenager, Halliday laboured with his father, learning the basic building blocks of construction. The simplicity of bricks and mortar and concrete to form structures inspired him to go on to study architecture, which he did, graduating from Glasgow School of Art’s architecture school. He then spent a year with a prestigious Glasgow firm, during which he recreated the ‘Room de luxe’ at the Mackintosh Willow Tea Rooms in Sauchiehall Street, reopening this tea room while setting up his own practice. He has continued with this, and expertly designed many homes and remodels since then.

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Bobby Halliday Architects

KEIR STREET A restoration and extension of an existing Victorian villa. The existing kitchen and scullery area was extensively remodelled to form the link piece between the existing house and the new extension.

“We sketch out our ideas on paper ﬁrst to give our concepts a chance to develop organically”

1960’S CONVERSION We are currently completing this project on site. An existing 1960’s bungalow is being extensively remodelled and extended with a new zinc clad first floor. New natural stone cladding blends the house into its surroundings within the local conservation area.

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Oliver & Robb Architects

ith over 45 years’ experience in the construction industry, ORA is a passionate architectural practice that brings fresh creativity and energy to its work. The highly skilled and motivated team of 11, including certified European Passivhaus designers and specialists in sustainable architectural design, deliver a broad range of projects across the UK primarily in the housing and healthcare sectors. “A large part of our ethos is about focusing on the client and their needs, relating to them and listening to them so that they can live, work or play in and be inspired by the spaces we create for them,” says partner David Tibbs. “We aim to understand the client, the site and the surrounding environment, all of which influence how we create spaces. We don’t have preconceived ideas about what a house design should be like and instead approach each project as a unique task. This leads to personalised solutions that are tailored to each client’s individual needs.” Creativity is at the heart of ORA’s approach, with the latest software and management techniques used to ensure that projects are delivered to the highest professional standards. “This way we are able to create places with personality and purpose that will be inspiring to those who live, work and play within them. Our clients trust us to deliver innovative, pragmatic and highquality design solutions.”

Oliver & Robb Architects Pitreavie Drive, Dunfermline Fife KY11 8UH 01383 621621 info@oliverandrobb.co.uk www.oliverandrobb.co.uk

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TWO HOUSES IN DORNOCH Above and top right: The zinc-clad roof, large expanses of glazing and smooth white rendered walls provide a modern interpretation of the traditional architecture of the area. Designed to Passivhaus standards, this highly insulated timber kit is supplemented by photovoltaics and a very efficient mechanically vented heatrecovery system. A garage and workshop, designed using the same palette of materials, complements the main three-bedroom house. Right: Built following Passivhaus principles and using materials sourced locally, this new-build has a contemporary open-plan layout that maximises the natural light. To capitalise on the views, ORA elevated the public rooms and the master bedroom to the first floor. The external finishes – Scottish timber, wet dash render, natural slate and natural stone sourced from local quarries – are also influenced by the area’s traditional buildings.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We create places with personality and purpose that will be inspiring to those who live, work and play in themâ&#x20AC;?

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Cameron Webster Architects

small team based in Glasgow, the five dedicated professionals behind Cameron Webster Architects have a great deal of experience in designing award-winning buildings. The practice takes a contemporary approach to new commissions, with attention given to detail, light and materials, and to the relationship between the internal and external spaces. The result is uplifting interiors and buildings that sit comfortably in their surroundings. “We try to develop an evocative use of light and space,” says partner Miranda Webster. “We also have a firm grasp of good and sustainable construction processes and their associated costs, as we have been extensively involved in building at the blunt end as well as with conceptual design.” The practice offers a personal service to clients investing in the design of a home. “People choose us for our reputation in delivering contemporary, award-winning houses, which work well and are loved by their owners. We always aim to bring the client something they hadn’t considered before, and which results in a better outcome than first envisaged. “We are excited by challenges and by thinking about architecture and the built environment in a different way. We look forward to continuing to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what is possible.”

Cameron Webster Architects The Printworks, 10 Otago Street Glasgow G12 8JH 0141 330 9898 mail@cameronwebster.com www.cameronwebster.com

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RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS Below: A new kitchen/dining room was attached to this Georgian house. The circulation space is defined around the oak boarded ‘box’ which articulates the edges with shelves where it meets the living space and a seating bench where it meets the dining area. Above right: Additions to this house in Lenzie, including a new kitchen to the rear, are differentiated from the existing building by being clad in bronze.

CANTILEVER HOUSE Top: This two-storey house is built into the rock; full-height glazing in the upper-level living room gives panoramic views. The structure is a steel frame that allows the building to cantilever over the entrance, and the house is clad in carefully detailed zinc, with timber windows.

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Helen Lucas Architects Ltd

elen Lucas Architects is a versatile and design-led practice that provides bespoke schemes to meet the demands of modern working and living. Based in Edinburgh but working across Scotland and beyond, the practice has gained a reputation for delivering beautiful and innovative solutions to a wide range of design challenges. As well as designing new buildings, the practice has extensive experience of extending and conserving existing and historic buildings, often listed buildings within the World Heritage Site. “We take on every project with a desire to learn as much as we can about the owners, their likes and dislikes, and how they will use the space,” says director Helen Lucas. “With existing buildings, and particularly listed buildings, we also study the characteristics of the original architecture to understand the building’s construction as well as the general ethos of the design. “We always take great care to respect the scale and nature of the existing building, the garden ground and the neighbouring properties.” The practice always aims to maximise the use of natural light and to capture any available sunlight, not only for the purposes of solar gain but also for the spiritual benefits of sunny sheltered external spaces. “We are enthusiastic about creating beautiful details and believe that the most successful are easy to build. We set out to achieve timelessness.” Helen Lucas Architects Ltd 31-35 Marchmont Road Edinburgh EH9 1HU 0131 478 8880 mail@helenlucas.co.uk www.helenlucas.co.uk

TAIGH NA COILLE, ROSHVEN Taigh Na Coille means ‘House of the Woods’, and this house, constructed and clad with timber, was designed to be part of the woods. The clients wanted it to look well crafted, like a piece of furniture, so fine-grained Siberian larch was chosen for the cladding, left untreated to weather. The house and deck sit on a green oak pegged frame, which touches the ground lightly, with minimal impact on the sloping site.

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“We take care to respect the scale and nature of the existing building and its neighbours”

BUCKINGHAM TERRACE, EDINBURGH This ground and basement apartment in a B-listed townhouse in the New Town conservation area of Edinburgh was completely refurbished. The brief also asked for natural light to be brought into the lower level of the property, for improved living spaces to be created and for a better engagement between the house and its long south-facing garden. An original kitchen outshot to the rear was removed, and a contemporary, open and bright living space was built to one side of the garden. Through flush-level sliding doors, the new lounge and dining areas within the extension look on to a sunny, sheltered courtyard. The internal oak parquet flooring lines through precisely with the external porcelain parquet tiling. An asymmetric zinc roof allows for the positioning of a large roof light over the dining area, which floods the space with natural light.

DICK PLACE, EDINBURGH An extensive refurbishment project saw the removal of various piecemeal extensions from the rear of the property and their replacement with a simpler 1½-storey arrangement, greatly improving the house’s relationship to the garden. Western red cedar cladding and dark grey zinc sit calmly against the existing Victorian architecture. Internally, the flow of space has been simplified and the rooms are now flooded with light.

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Faed Browne Architects

ince it was established in 1996, Faed Browne Architects has worked to meet and exceed its clients’ expectations. The busy practice is based in Edinburgh’s New Town and run by its partners Andrea Faed and Greg Browne. Faed balances practising with teaching at Edinburgh University. Her unit is concerned with poetic northern architecture with research and study trips to Nordic countries. Browne, who was educated in Australia, has a simple pragmatic approach to conceptual design, concentrating on project management and designed, technical detailing. A comprehensive personal and hands-on service is offered, with the team collaborating closely with clients and consultants, and liaising with contractors on a daily basis. “We strive to make every project a piece of outstanding design, rooted in its context, improving the architectural environment and the lifestyles of those using it,” say the partners. “Design objectives focus on beauty, simplicity and clarity with an overriding integrity, creatively crafting social gathering, or individual spaces. The selection of materials and the way they come together form an integral part of the decision-making process. Natural light, solar gain and sustainability are all considered at an early stage in the design.” It’s a successful approach that has won the practice much admiration and saw it shortlisted for one of RIBA’s international design competitions in 2015.

Faed Browne Architects mail@faedbrowne.co.uk www.faedbrowne.co.uk

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EDINBURGH Left: The kitchen of this house in Edinburgh was completely remodelled to accommodate a fresh new layout. Middle: Ultra-minimalist and deceptively simple, this glass box in the gardens of a Victorian villa gives its owners a way to enjoy their outdoor space all year round. Below: Utilising clean lines and interconnected spaces, exciting contemporary projects are created, one of which is a new house within a walled garden in East Lothian.

“We strive to make every project a piece of outstanding design”

OPENING UP Bottom right: The practice is very experienced at opening up and extending period properties to form a better connection with the garden and give the occupants an improved layout, more light and a better use of the interior space; timber cladding, glass and steel are among the preferred materials.

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