The brief for Carra springs principally from its site, which our clients took time and effort to find from their own brief in that regard – that it should sit somewhere along the Northwest coast of Scotland, look naturally to the sea and be free from light pollution. After many trips to view possibilities, Carra presented itself as close to the ideal. The brief then delivered to us is what has allowed the ideal to be achieved.
Working initially with Robert Steedman, we were asked to follow a plan figure that
Allied to this was the accommodation brief, in essence
Broad runs of glazing and carefully set and proportioned roof lights take maximum advantage of daylighting, with the flying oak linings to the latter providing a dynamic set of gnomonic shadow-casts to the interiors. The living space is set apart through being approached across a minutely detailed bridge. That bridge is then reflected and repeated to the outside, giving access to a carefully benched and glazed viewing tower that is open to views from Northwest to Northeast and, importantly, the night sky.
A great deal of the natural stone used is from the site and no material was taken away – earth and rocks were moved and shaped or placed to better protect the house from weather.
The planning department was concerned that the ridge would be disconcertingly long and horizontal, so we promoted the rooflights upwards a pinch to achieve a subtle variety in silhouette.
Our client has then been painstaking in eliminating rogue plants and introducing a more natural variety of flora to the grounds around the house. There is a great sense of natural rootedness to it. There is also an array of photovoltaic panels nestled into the land rather than announced on a roof. A path used by walkers to get through to the rocks and shore has been left as found for anyone to use.
The brief for Carra springs principally from its site, which our clients took time and effort to find from their own brief in that regard – that it should sit somewhere along the Northwest coast of Scotland, look naturally to the sea and be free from light pollution. After many trips to view possibilities, Carra presented itself as close to the ideal. The brief then delivered to us is what has allowed the ideal to be achieved.
Working initially with Robert Steedman, we were asked to follow a plan figure that
Allied to this was the accommodation brief, in essence
Broad runs of glazing and carefully set and proportioned roof lights take maximum advantage of daylighting, with the flying oak linings to the latter providing a dynamic set of gnomonic shadow-casts to the interiors. The living space is set apart through being approached across a minutely detailed bridge. That bridge is then reflected and repeated to the outside, giving access to a carefully benched and glazed viewing tower that is open to views from Northwest to Northeast and, importantly, the night sky.
A great deal of the natural stone used is from the site and no material was taken away – earth and rocks were moved and shaped or placed to better protect the house from weather.
The planning department was concerned that the ridge would be disconcertingly long and horizontal, so we promoted the rooflights upwards a pinch to achieve a subtle variety in silhouette.
Our client has then been painstaking in eliminating rogue plants and introducing a more natural variety of flora to the grounds around the house. There is a great sense of natural rootedness to it. There is also an array of photovoltaic panels nestled into the land rather than announced on a roof. A path used by walkers to get through to the rocks and shore has been left as found for anyone to use.