ARCHITECTURE ’22 Top tips for self-builders

Umage Clava Dine lampshade, £478, Dowsing & Reynolds

Circa handle in walnut and solid brass, from £18, Meraki EXPOSED BEAMS ARE A REAL ROOF-RAISER WANT TO MAKE A ROOM FEEL TALLER? Exposing the ceiling structure can achieve just that. “We’ve done it a few times where we’ve continued the beams across the rooflights, so you get this interesting graded light filtering through when it crosses the structure,” says Kieran Gaffney, architect and director of Konishi Gaffney, who points to the Nordic Pavilion in Venice as a famous example of this type of design feature. “I don’t necessarily think it’s a stylistic influence driving its popularity here, though,” he adds. “I think architects are looking at the space where the roof structure is and thinking, ‘Why let that space go to waste when we could use it as part of the room?’ ”

It’s easier to do in some properties than others. New-builds are preferable, as are flat roofs. “You also need to be careful with the type of wood you use,” tips Gaffney. “Most timber from a yard will be stamped with its grade, so you have to try to get it before it has been stamped, or else sand it off.”

Oak and Douglas fir are his favoured timbers, both for their aesthetic appeal and resilience. White-painted pine was used in the example below, which pairs well with the discreet track lighting tucked between the rafters.

MID-CENTURY TEAK FINDS 2 A HOME IN THE KITCHEN MID-CENTURY FURNITURE has been inescapable these past few years, but the fingerprints of this style – in particular the rich, teak wood that characterises it – have been noticeably absent from one room in our homes: the kitchen. Until now, that is.

“In two of our recent projects, the clients went for a timber kitchen,” says Sarah Jane Storrie of Studio SJM Architects. “One of them particularly liked mid-century furniture, so they wanted their kitchen to tie in with that. Teak is not sustainable so we used oak, and Archispek, the kitchen manufacturer, stained it to give the appearance of teak.”

It took a few goes to get the colour just right (Storrie says one drawback of using timber anywhere in the home is that the sample won’t always perfectly reflect what arrives), but the clients, who live in Bridge of Allan, are delighted with the final result. They balanced out the chocolate-toned wood with a blush-pink Aga and marble-effect splashback for a look that feels modern while reflecting the retro style they love.

“There’s also a nod to France there, as one of the clients is half-French,” adds Storrie. “A lot of the references we looked at had that elegant French aesthetic.”

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IMAGE BY NANNE SPRINGER

KENNELS RECEIVE THE 5 DESIGNER TREATMENT BEHOLD BONEHENGE, the brainchild of Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects. It was the winning design at this year’s Barkitecture competition at Goodwoof, an annual dog event in West Sussex, and it wasn’t just a hit with the human judges. “I think our kennel was the only one dogs actually entered,” laughs architect and co-director of the firm Michael Russum.

Perhaps that’s because it was inspired by Illy, the beloved cocker spaniel of co-director Richard Portchmouth. Noticing her tendency to circle a spot before laying down on it, the team began sketching an elliptical form with a dog rotating inside. A colonnade of bones transformed it into a three-dimensional object, and the name Bonehenge naturally followed suit.

The design was made by craftsman Karl Lewin using Accoya wood, and was praised by judge Kevin McCloud for its ability to multi-function as a coffee table. “You can also lift the acrylic lid and feed the dog beneath,” adds Russum. The practice may in future make a limited run of the kennels. Watch this space.

GETTING RICHER (IN 6 KNOWLEDGE AND PALETTE) WE’VE HAD A LOT OF TIME for introspection in recent years, and it hasn’t gone to waste. “People have a richer understanding of their homes since the pandemic,” says Daryl Robbins, architect and co-founder of Jones Robbins. “People know which space captures the best light, for instance, which has the best social arrangement, which bits of the garden they want to sit in; we have a greater insight into how we would like to live.”

This, says the architect, has led to an increase in the number of clients incorporating built-in cabinetry into the design of their homes. The project on the left, for example, shows an oak storage wall with a built-in pantry, drinks cupboard and display shelves. “People are thinking beyond flat-pack furniture, and whatever is fashionable at the time, and are actually building joinery into a project,” he explains. “It’s all about creating a home for the next generation, thinking about the lifespan of the building, and considering how they will be using the home during that time.”

Matching this new understanding is a move towards a richer palette of materials, with whites and greys being replaced by deeper colours and natural tones, and British timbers such as larch and Douglas fir often being selected. “This is perhaps in part because people are being guided by a desire to use locally sourced materials and a new awareness of where products come from, but it could also be down to us having a stronger connection with nature,” says Gareth Jones, fellow architect and co-founder of the practice.

IMAGE BY BAILLIE BAILLIE BREATHABLE FABRICS THAT 7 SUPPORT OUR WELLBEING WE HAVE PERHAPS NEVER BEEN SO conscious of protecting our wellbeing, which could explain why Colin Baillie, director of Glasgow-based Baillie Baillie Architects, has noted a rising demand for natural materials that promote a healthy living environment. “Volume house-builders often build with polyurethane insulation and plastic membranes,” he says. “There’s often lots of synthetic materials contained within the walls, which can create quite a hermetically sealed internal environment. These homes may be reasonably well insulated and air-tight, but there are increasingly questions as to what the air quality is like inside the building, and what that does to our health and wellbeing long-term.”

Baillie says there is a growing movement towards the use of clay plaster, which is more breathable. “In a couple of our projects we are using clay blocks, which have no synthetic materials in them at all and allow moisture to pass through the wall and out of the building,” he explains. “It’s a ‘breathing’ building fabric, basically.”

Natural materials can also have a positive impact on our mental health. “Consider a warm, timber-lined room and how it feels like a very calming space,” adds Baillie, whose projects often incorporate sustainable materials such as stone, natural slate and timber. “Buildings can make us feel relaxed and improve our quality of life, and the materials used within them are integral to that.”

IMAGE BY ALEX JAMES-AYLIN

“These homes offer quality design and architecture alongside real comfort”

IMAGES BY DAVID BARBOUR

COMBINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH COMFORT WHO HASN’T GOT ENERGY on their mind right now? As we contend with a climate emergency while our gas bills continue to soar, more of us are acquainting ourselves with passivhaus design (which you can read more about on page 249), a construction concept that seeks to minimise energy consumption. Excitingly, Dundee-based architect Kirsty Maguire says the construction industry is upskilling at pace to meet an increased demand for energy-efficient homes.

“Originally, there were only a few of us in Scotland working in passivhaus, and as a community we were very keen to help others upskill so as to make meaningful change at scale,” says Maguire. “That’s now coming into play, which is great to see. We’re part of a team delivering training across the board to consultants, designers and contractors. And, in our own projects, we help to build the expertise of the contractors we’re working with; so, for example, a contractor we worked with recently has decided to pivot their entire business to move into low-energy passivhaus builds, because it combines

8high quality with environmental responsibility.” A holistic, fabric-first approach is taken when creating a passivhaus home. Good insulation and excellent detailing contribute to their success as low-energy buildings, of course, but these are not the only tools in the kit. “We look at how the building sits on the site, optimising the glazing levels so that you get the right amount of sunlight into the building without overheating. We use mechanical ventilation heat-recovery systems that provide great indoor air quality throughout the year, so that you have fresh air in your home whether you open the windows or not, and we employ renewables for hot water; in recent projects we’ve used air-source heat pumps,” continues Maguire. In previous decades, eco living was associated with asceticism; a hippie finding warmth in a hair shirt. But the reality of living in a passivhaus build couldn’t be further from this outdated stereotype. “These homes offer a way to have your cake and eat it, because you’re getting quality design and architecture alongside real comfort,” says Maguire. “A warm, low-energy house with plenty of fresh air – who could say no to that?”

NOOK SMART: WEE 9 BREAKOUT SPACES WE MAY NOT BE LOCKED DOWN any longer – and thank goodness for that – but an increase in hybrid working has changed the way many of us utilise our living spaces. “We’re finding that a lot of our clients are incorporating little nooks, or breakout areas, into their homes,” says Robert Willis of Edinburgh-based Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects, who notes that this trend began in large-scale offices before migrating into residential properties. “Some couples, for example, might share a home office and need a space they can retreat to when they have to take a call – or just somewhere to sit and read a book. These nooks offer a place to catch some respite, and they can double up as a mini home office.”

They can also provide families with a way to spend time together even when working on separate activities. One of the kids could be doing their homework while a parent is cooking, without either of them feeling as though their space is being invaded. In the Garden House (pictured right as a sketch), the nook is nestled within a feature unit that divides the living room from the hall and kitchen. Part-seat, part-desk, it’s beside a tall bookcase, and there’s a media wall on the opposite side. “I think it shows how these kinds of areas can be introduced even where space is limited,” adds Willis.

Hallways and landings, typically not the most hardworking areas in a home, are ripe for a nooking. “They’re so often treated just as places that afford passage from one place to another – but why not incorporate a seat with storage?” asks Willis. “Then it becomes a place to pause and relax, and it maximises the space into the bargain.”

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F I L L Y O U R N O O K S

Sentrum side table by Woud, £512, Nest

Muuto Sketch toolbox, £42, Kin Temuka table lamp, £79, Cult Furniture

Kai accent chair, £375, Next

oe Roberts met Tony Francis six years ago on the Isle of Mull, where Tony had

Za hotel. “We were both ready to move on,” recalls Zoe, “and we realised we were looking for the same thing – our absolute dream was to build a new house with envir on mentally considerate credentials.”

T h e y s u b s e q u e n t l y r e l o c a t e d t o Dumfries and Galloway, and it was here while renting that they found a rural plot up for sale. “It was down a little lane and had stunning views,” says Zoe. “There were neighbours reasonably close by and the nearest town was within walking distance, but it still felt idyllically remote. It was covered in nettles, dock leaves and rosebay willowherb up to our shoulders, but we both looked at it and agreed it was a no-brainer.”

Once they’d bought it, Tony’s daughter recommended speaking to Dundee-based architect Kirsty Maguire, who is a specialist in passivhaus design. “Kirsty was on the same wavelength as us,” says Zoe. “I’ve seldom known anyone with such attention to detail, and she really listened to what we were saying. Our brief at the early stage was just a top ten list – number one was a mud room! We have three Labradors, and managing them on a wet winter’s day had to be easy.” They also wanted a big open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The architect came up with ideas for an eco-friendly, lowcarbon house, built on a modest budget and refl ecting the local vernacular such as the metal roofs of the neighbouring farm buildings, in particular a beautifully weathered barn with a rustred roof in an adjacent fi eld.

“We looked at a few design options, but one stood out,” says Kirsty Maguire. “The shape of the building creates courtyards within the garden which relates to the light at different times of day – it works like a sundial.”

The courtyard garden to the east, opening from the kitchen and dining area, is perfect for morning coffee. As the sun moves around the house, it hits the south side with the pond and vegetable garden, bathing the outdoor dining table in sunlight from late morning until evening. “The design comes from the clients’ love of the outdoors and being in the garden,” explains the architect. “The design is about the site itself, as well as the house.”

It has a generous living space with an open ‘cathedral’ ALL IN THE DETAILS

THE BUILD Work commenced in the middle of September 2020 and lasted for 16 weeks – exactly as the contractor had predicted. The plot extends to a third of an acre and the house occupies 107sq.m of space. The total build cost was £260,500.

The house has two ‘wings’ with an entrance link in red as a nod to the surrounding farm buildings. The courtyard provides sheltered outdoor areas

there were no thermal bridges so the building doesn’t leak much energy,” says Maguire. “There are no cold spots or draughts so it’s very comfortable, with a constant trickle of warm fresh air all year round.”

The build went on site in September 2020, with the couple renting down the road. “We didn’t have wriggle room on the budget,” says Tony. “But the contractors gave us a timetable and they stuck to it completely. Everything went like clockwork. We respected the fact that they were on a tight schedule and that the site was their place of work. Us turning up too often would be irritating, so instead we always came on a Monday bearing cake – that worked for them and for us!”

Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic – particularly the challenges of procuring materials and the late delivery of the windows – Zoe and Tony moved in exactly when the contractors had promised they would, and they were also within budget.

The couple have named their new house after the site’s mature beech trees, with as many of them as possible being retained. One that had to be felled has been made into windowsills and shelving by local craftsman Philip Wilson.

“There isn’t a stick of new furniture in the house – it’s all things we’ve had for years,” says Zoe, who chose the green on the kitchen wall to complement the seasonal colours of the beech trees that are visible from the window. “Kirsty designed

A R C H I T E C O

DESPITE THE CURRENT STATE of the world, ‘sustainability’ is often little more than a buzzword thrown around by companies trying to look the part. For Dunoon-based Architeco, however, it’s in the name, and at the very heart of the practice. An eco-friendly and sustainable approach is always the team’s focus when it comes to creating new designs. “Zero carbon is the future of housing – there is no alternative. That’s now our baseline rather than a goal,” explains founder Colin Potter. “We aim to improve the environment, not just lower impact, so our designs today sequester more carbon than they release during construction.”

What is now a diverse team of ten (hailing from Norway, Italy, Spain, Chile and, of course, Scotland) started out in 2011 when Potter left his job as an associate and hand-built an office for his new practice. It wasn’t a thankless task; the office won an award, and, as he worked, Potter came up with a flexible passivhaus design that was easily adaptable to a variety of sites and situations. Architeco’s recently launched sister company Caber House serves as a home for these once-theoretical designs: “The prototype design for a ‘standard house’ eventually became a range of zero-carbon dwellings for clients who like to choose designs off-plan.”

For entirely bespoke work, though, Architeco has it covered. The award-winning practice specialises in contemporary ecoarchitecture and holistic residential designs. Simplicity, balance and the natural environment serve as inspiration, as does the client’s vision and the arrangement of the site. Its builds are dotted across Scotland and the UK, sleek exteriors hiding thoughtful, green interiors. “Sustainable buildings need to be designed fabric-first, rather than as a list of add-on tech that many people associate with sustainability,” says Potter. “So right from the start, we are considering how best to orient and design a house to take advantage of the conditions. While solar panels, heat pumps and triple glazing are all important components to help improve efficiency, these need to be considered as part of a building’s overall performance and in interaction with each other. A building should be designed holistically, with sustainability to the fore.”

If you’re thinking about a self-build, it’s vital to find a team you have a rapport with. “Building your home is an incredibly exciting and rewarding adventure, but there will be challenges. Ensure the architect is qualified (check with the ARB) and is someone you can build a relationship with. As a practice, we are accustomed to dealing with bumps on the road – these are par for the course and almost always solvable with communication and persistence.”

Potter also offers up this invaluable advice: “Bigger isn’t necessarily better! Good design can achieve the same generous feel with a smaller footprint. Focusing on design, not size, produces the best solution.”

IMAGES BY DAVID BARBOUR

CABER HOUSE MODEL B, SOMERSET Energy-efficient five-bed home “Our drive to reduce our cement use in construction led to our first suspended ground-floor Caber House.”

LIGHTHOUSE COTTAGE, COWAL Retrofit and extension A 1920s cottage has been extended with a substantial sun room to the front, and a master suite, utility and garage to the side

A R C H I T E C O 43 Argyll Street, Dunoon, Argyll and Bute PA23 7HG Tel: 01369 701988 Email: contact@architeco.co.uk www.architeco.co.uk

E Ò L A S A R C H I T E C T S

IF YOUR GAELIC IS UP TO SCRATCH, you’ll know that

‘eòlas’ (pronounced ee-oh-lis) means ‘knowledge guided by the experience of practice’, which is fortuitous because that’s how this dynamic studio has built up such an impressive portfolio. Take a cursory glance at Eòlas Architects’ back catalogue of completed projects and you’ll be treated to a masterclass in adapting to the diverse Scottish terrain. Lochside cabins, lodges immersed in deep forests, stilted holiday homes: this award-winning practice is well versed in the kind of projects that draw gasps of admiration. “The fi rst question we ask prospective clients is where is your home, because we believe that architecture should be responsive to its surroundings and inspire a sense of place,” explains founder and managing director Rob Macpherson.

Eòlas also has experience in agricultural buildings, hotels, community spaces, energy provision, healthcare and education. “The variety of our work encompasses individual new houses, holiday homes, house group developments, estates and agricultural works, as well as large- and small-scale refurbishments, extensions and the remodelling of historic, listed and protected buildings.”

The team of eight (if you include offi ce pup, Ava) have some exciting projects in the pipeline over the coming months. They use 3D computer modelling and real-time virtual-reality visualisation soft ware to help clients see their project developing. With 35 years’ experience in Highland Perthshire, their ethos is to adopt an ‘inside-out’ and ‘people fi rst’ approach, where they assess the needs of the homeowner and what they want to create for them, before formulating a solution around them. “When we are presented with problems, we like to view them as opportunities,” says Macpherson, “fl ipping them positively and coming up with considered, creative solutions that are focused on the needs of the client.” At Garth Wood House in Aberfeldy, completed in 2018, the challenge was to fi nd a way of housing the client’s 10,000 books. The solution was to fl ip the levels, creating an upside-down pavilion-style home. With the bedrooms downstairs, the upper level has been designed around a central stairwell and inner hall that houses the library. It’s discreet, responsive and an attractive use of what can oft en be wasted space – and ensures the living areas have the best views of the river and the enveloping mountains.

Nature and setting are at the heart of this practice’s creativity; based in Perthshire and Glasgow, the team are well placed to work across the country, using the hills, glens and seascapes as inspiration. Creating eco-friendly solutions is a core value and is borne out in their ‘recycle, reuse, rather than replace’ methodology. “We’ve managed to improve the everyday lives of many people by creating beautiful spaces and buildings in which to live, work and enjoy.”

VICTORIAN TENEMENT FLAT, DOWANHILL Remodelling, refurbishment and working with the existing building’s fabric in Glasgow’s West End.

E Ò L A S A R C H I T E C T S ABERFELDY Aberfeldy Business Park, Dunkeld Road, PH15 2AQ Tel: 01887 820 098 GLASGOW Unit 1, 55 Ruthven Lane, G12 9BG Tel: 07791 564278 www.eolasarchitects.com

H E L E N L U C A S A RC H I T E C T S

LIGHT. AIR. BREATHING SPACE. Take a look at the

portfolio of Edinburgh-based practice Helen Lucas Architects and you’ll notice a thread connecting each project. “Our approach is always to maximise the use of natural light, to capture any available sunlight that will optimise solar gain, as well as take advantage of the spiritual benefi ts of sunny, sheltered external spaces,” explains Helen, who founded her practice in 2001. “We like to provide garden views; safe, supervised play areas for children; and generous cooking and eating spaces that refl ect the preferences of modern-day families.”

Finding inspiration in historic buildings, landscapes and travel – as well as in the humans and animals who occupy the buildings the practice designs – Helen and her 15-strong team specialise in providing bespoke solutions for domestic and commercial properties. They are as accustomed to working on listed historic buildings as they are to designing beautiful new-builds from the ground up. Alongside the creation of homes, they have particular expertise in designing art galleries and art studios.

“We aim to create a tailor-made solution for each project, endeavouring to fully understand not only the client’s requirements but that of the existing building and site,” says Helen. “Our goal is to reduce the impact each project makes on the earth and to produce healthy, breathable buildings for the occupants.”

Helen notes that architects face challenges in the wake of Brexit and Covid, but says her team have ambitions to be part of a positive change within Scotland’s construction industry. The practice is always seeking environmental solutions to building problems, taking the time to understand the current marketplace and the availability of materials in the UK. They organise desktop studies in the early stages of each project to ascertain options that will allow them to move away from fossil fuels for heating, and examine what kind of impact these alternatives may have. Innovative structural solutions are always presented, with a view to reducing the use of steel and concrete as far as possible.

“Like fast fashion, we need to stop putting up buildings with limited life materials and plastics destined for landfi ll,” explains the architect. “Homes need to be easily repaired and maintained, and adaptable for future changes in social behaviours.”

The practice likes to “listen, learn, understand, explore and communicate” when working with a client, and the architect says it’s a two-way conversation. “Building work takes more time than you imagine, so be patient and set realistic objectives,” she advises. “Hire an architect you like, and enjoy the process!”

IMAGES BY ANGUS BREMNER

[Above] GEORGIAN VILLA, LEITH Full-scale renovation project The kitchen ceiling was removed to allow more light and space. [Below] VICTORIAN HOUSE, EDINBURGH Remodelling and extension Extensive alterations were made to this detached home in Merchiston

H E L E N L U C A S A R C H I T E C T S L T D 31-35 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh EH9 1HU Tel: 0131 478 8880 Email: mail@helenlucas.co.uk www.helenlucas.co.uk

J A M S T U D I O

MARIE-LOUISE DUNK knew she wanted to be an architect when she was ten years old. “I kid myself that I’ll retire at some point but, in all honesty, I suspect I’ll be doodling till the day I die! Being an architect is a really fundamental part of who I am,” she says.

Together with partner John Wingate, she runs JAMstudio, a successful practice with offi ces in Inverurie and Aberdeen, specialising in high-end residential alterations (including works to listed buildings), renovations and one-off new-build homes.

One very challenging project saw them replacing a dilapidated house in Braemar’s conservation area with a super-insulated, eco-conscious split-level home that took its design cues in part from the original house but added a spectacular triple-height glazed façade to capture the mountain views. “We were lucky to have a client who was prepared to take some calculated risks!” she says.

“We’re open-minded, friendly and quick-thinking, and we aim to create beautiful, practical and stylish homes for our clients, with the perfect amount of space in exactly the right place,” says the architect. “We want our clients to experience delight not just when our work is complete, but for decades to come.”

The studio’s portfolio includes holiday cottages, Georgian farmhouses, modern offi ces and much more, but every project follows the same mantra: “Right space, right location, perfect lighting and carefully considered materials”. Clients appreciate the way the practice has embraced new technology: “We have incorporated the use of 3D models for all our projects and now have an additional piece of soft ware that allows us to ‘walk around’ the fully rendered realistic virtual model of the building in real time,” says Dunk.

“It’s proving hugely useful as it helps our clients get a really good feel for the size of the spaces, where the light falls, what it’s going be like at night, what you can see when you stand in diff erent parts of the house – it’s really thrilling both for them and for us.”

Potential clients, she warns, should be aware that the budgets quoted on TV home-building shows more oft en than not don’t include VAT or professional fees. “There’s also a perception that bigger spaces are better than smaller ones – this is oft en not true,” she adds. “What you need is to fi nd a way to release the potential of the small space. We can help you do that.”

J A M S T U D I O Country offi ce: Moss Side Steading, Fetternear, Inverurie AB51 5JX City offi ce: 5 Golden Square, Aberdeen AB10 1RD Tel: 01224 646450 www.jamstudio.uk.com

PROSPECT HOUSE, CLUNY Refurb and extension This extension incorporates a bar and lounge area to a listed manse, to complement the entertaining spaces on the ground floor

[Below] ABERDEENSHIRE Listed manse As part of the refurbishment of this 18th-century factor’s house, JAMstudio designed an extension made of glass, oak and zinc, sensitively juxtaposing the old and new parts of the building and breathing new life into it

“We want our clients to experience delight not just when our work is complete, but for decades to come”

K I TC H E N S I N T E R N AT I ON A L

THERE’S NO DOUBT that the way we live our lives has changed over the last couple of years. Flexibility, new routines and a reassessment of where our priorities lie have come out on top. You’ll have noticed this at home more than anywhere, with redesigns and changing layouts allowing us to use our space in new ways. The kitchen is still king but it’s being made to work harder than ever – it’s a food prep zone, dining and entertaining area, office space and school work corner all rolled into one.

Kitchens International has almost three decades’ worth of experience in the business, and the award-winning company’s six showrooms around the country will get your kitchen working in your favour. The advice is simple: if you are planning a renovation or extension, the earlier you can involve a kitchen designer, the better. “A kitchen is a multifunctional space now,” says the firm’s Ross Craig. “It’s no longer just an area dedicated to cooking. The kitchen of the future embraces all facets of life – it is a space to cook, learn, work, communicate, relax, celebrate, laugh and love.”

Among the Kitchens International team are designers, project managers, installers, logistics managers, technicians and aftercare specialists, all of whom are trained to guide customers through every part of the process. “It’s never too early to appoint a supplier,” says Craig. “The sooner the team are in place, the easier it is to form a plan, meaning less stress all round.”

His advice is to think about how your kitchen functions for everyday living, and not just for big occasions like Christmas. Acknowledge the positives and the negatives, as this will help to give the brief clarity.

Comfortable in both residential and commercial settings, the design studio is well versed in collaborative working and recognises that architects and interior designers are crucial for a smooth-running project. Working in conjunction with these key partners, and seeing how clients’ style requests have evolved, has kept the studio on top of new kitchen trends. But a solid understanding of each customer’s lifestyle always underpins every project, as Craig explains: “Our designers listen to what you want, building up a picture of your life and family so the kitchen will reflect your needs perfectly.”

Requests for the inclusion of living-room furniture or the incorporation of glass-fronted and illuminated display furniture have soared in recent years as clients opt to extend or combine the kitchen with other rooms. “In larger spaces, we are seeing more bars and seating areas as people request multifunctional space for entertaining, dining and home working. There has been an increase in investment, too, in high-spec premium appliances from brands such as Gaggenau and Sub-Zero & Wolf.”

IMAGES BY PAUL MAVOR [Above and below] HIGH-QUALITY GERMAN DESIGN Kitchens International is a supplier of Designer German kitchens from premium manufacturers, Leicht and Poggenpohl. Known for their ultra-modern looks, smooth finishes and timeless modernity, these brands offer innovative solutions for every style.

K I T C H E N S I N T E R N A T I O N A L Showrooms in: ABERDEEN, BROXBURN, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW and TILLICOULTRY Tel: 0845 074 0022 www.kitchensinternational.co.uk

PAT E R S ON GOR D O N A RC H I T E C T U R E

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY is the wish of every savvy shopper, but it is not particularly easy to achieve when you’re in the market for an architect – unless, that is, you hire Paterson Gordon Architecture. The award-winning practice allows potential clients to rent its self-built home at Loch Lomond as a holiday let to experience at first-hand the double-height living space, mezzanine, biomass heating and glass-toglass corner windows that characterise many of its projects.

“We designed and built an extension to our listed cottage almost entirely without the use of professional trades – it’s a true self-build,” says practice founder Elaine Paterson Gordon. “It allowed us to act as client, architect and builder, so we completely understood the process from start to finish. Since we’ve experienced the challenges and triumphs of designing and building our own home, we are able to lead our clients through what can appear to be a daunting process.”

Paterson Gordon has a keen interest in sustainability, and in making use of rural sites and older buildings, and specialises in bespoke extensions, conversions and one-off, new-build homes. The studio relishes a challenge, too, having taken on projects in remote locations with no infrastructure. Its designs are always informed by the surrounding context, whether that’s the existing dwelling, the views, the site’s history or its topography. The latest developments in architecture and design, as well as ideas seen in other cultures, have proven to be rich sources of inspiration too.

“We aim to create homes that meets every aspiration the client might have (and some they perhaps didn’t know they had!) and to complement and enrich the existing context,” says Paterson Gordon. “If it’s an extension or remodelling, we try to understand how the client lives in the house, what their relationship is with it and what their lifestyle is like. This helps us to develop the brief and elevate it beyond the bare essentials of a list of spaces.”

Every project is also evaluated for its compatibility with environmental solutions, ranging from a fabric-first passive approach to the utilisation of ground- or air-source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels. Lately, the practice has been working on projects using SIPS technology (structural insulated panel systems), which can lead to quicker build times and better-quality construction.

Looking ahead, Paterson Gordon is excited to continue designing beautiful homes across Scotland and to start providing true turnkey developments where the practice would source plots, then design and work with local builders to create site-specific, contemporary homes.

“We’re also embarking on a personal project to renovate and extend our new home in Helensburgh,” she smiles. “It used to belong to pop star Marti Pellow from Wet Wet Wet!”

IMAGES BY ROSS CAMPBELL

[Above and below] FIRKIN STEADING, TARBET Conversion of a traditional steading The existing stone building was upgraded before a large glazed extension was added

P A T E R S O N G O R D O N A R C H I T E C T U R E 4A East Abercromby Street, Helensburgh G84 7SP Tel: 01436 701246 / 07876021469 Email: elaine@patersongordonarchitecture.co.uk www.patersongordonarchitecture.co.uk

R . H O U S E

ADMIT IT: swapping the city for a new life in the country has crossed your mind more than once these past couple of years. But even before the pandemic, the idea of having a rural abode either as a main home or as a holiday getaway – to be closer to nature, with easy access to outdoor pursuits and a slower, healthier pace of life – was an enticing prospect for many of us. All you need is an experienced architect to help you turn those dreams into reality.

Enter R.House. The studio is a collaboration between James MacQueen Builders and award-winning architecture practice Rural Design. Based on the Isle of Skye, R.House specialises in prefabricated design and sustainability, with the aim of creating “beautiful buildings in beautiful landscapes”.

“We offer a genuine turnkey service, and have expertise in every part of the process, from design to handing over a completed home,” says architect Alan Dickson. “This allows us to deliver buildings efficiently, with honest, upfront costs. Our location and understanding of the rural context, the culture and the severe weather means our projects are really quite different. We’ve put our strength in design and construction literally under one roof.”

There are over a dozen designs to choose from that go all the way from a basic ‘bothy’ model to an expansive five-bedroom, three-bathroom two-storey option. It’s worth pointing out that although these standard designs are offered, no two R.Houses are the same, since so much customisation is possible. Of course, if you can’t find the model that best suits your needs, or you simply want something that is totally unique, the team can create a bespoke design just for you. If you’d prefer to experience what it’s like to live in an R.House before you commit to buying, you can book a short stay at The Eyrie in the north of Skye.

“Energy efficiency is at the heart of everything we do,” says Dickson. “It’s in our design, construction, building materials, the delivery of our houses and right through to our staff offices and fleet vehicles. Everything is considered in our drive to be as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible.”

The studio’s mantra is to be realistic and pragmatic, understanding that the unexpected can sometimes happen. At the moment, challenges include procuring materials, but the team are already adapting to these obstacles by increasing their storage facilities and pre-ordering materials and components to soften the impact of shortages. “How to build a house in ten words? Sit back, relax and enjoy the experience. We’ll handle it!’”

R . H O U S E 6a Drynoch, Crossal, Carbost, Isle of Skye IV47 8SP Tel: 01478 612899 Email: sales@ruralhouse.co.uk www.ruralhouse.co.uk

MODEL RF3, AIRD, ISLE OF SKYE Three-bed house with an open-plan kitchen/living area This energy-efficient singlestorey build has high levels of insulation and air tightness