HOUSE IN A WALLED GARDEN, ARGYLL
The site is a one hectare terraced walled garden surrounded by mature woodland. A mountain river flows through the garden.
The house is positioned on a raised terrace and replaces derelict glasshouses. Like them it is built up against the north wall, with a southern aspect to maximise solar gain and views toward Arran.
The house features a timber clad 'visor' with splayed sides and lid to shade the south facing glazing in summer. The visor is breached to bring views of the sky into the central living space.
Stretching the house across the walled garden enabled the principal bedroom, with its own private court, to be positioned directly above the river channel. The structure is a composite cranked steel and timber frame on pile foundations.
Thick solid walls are insulated with sheeps wool, and lined with local Scottish hardwoods, lime plaster and leather panels, processed in a local organic tannery.
Masonry floor slabs act as a heat-sink to warm the house at night. A water-sourced heat pump and woodburning stove provide underfloor space heating and all hot water.
