Highland Retreat

CHALLENGE

Our client is the custodian of a wilderness reserve located in the Highlands of Scotland. The reserve is a 23,000-acre wildlife utopia filled with dramatic scenery and wild nature. 

The client approached us with a clear brief to design an eco-friendly off-grid bespoke new build home on a plot within the reserve. This will provide him with his own private home, separate from the existing lodges and cottages.

SOLUTION

The majority of the reserve sits within a Wild Land Area (WLA) and Special Landscape Area. 

The new building looked to add to the local quality of the WLA by using a high quality design and natural materials to replicate the landscape through stone, timber and a ‘green’ roof.  The glazed sections would also reflect the surrounding landscape, further embedding the building in the wild land.

The site nestles within the glen. The land slopes up from the existing road circa 35m, with the proposed dwelling being located on a natural plateau at this point, with trees to the north hugging the site and providing a natural boundary. It offers excellent solar orientation and provides incredible views along the valley floor. The natural plateau will minimise the ground works required and supports the ethos behind the dwelling having as minimal an impact as possible on the landscape.

RESULTS

The proposal has been designed to meet Passivhaus Standards and modelled extensively in order to achieve this. 

It has been designed as a contemporary single storey, two bedroom, flat roof dwelling, to allow for it to nestle into the landscape. It is to be orientated to maximise the potential views whilst roof overhangs are designed to harness solar gain to appropriate levels but limit overheating and solar glare.

The contemporary design wants to be true to its purpose - providing the highest quality living standards harnessing 21st Century renewable technology and a truly modern yet respectful design to enhance the landscape and surroundings. 

External materials are to consist of slim framed glazing set against locally sourced sustainable timber and stone cladding, perhaps from the reserve itself. It is proposed to make use of a green sedum roof. This will help the dwelling to sit sensitively within the surrounding wild landscape.