BOATHOUSE AT BALNEARN // PERTH AND KINROSS


Boathouse at Balnearn - Acknowledge Keith Hunter

PROFILE

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McKenzie Strickland Associates
Private client
Balnearn, Perthshire
Single house
A unique, multi-functional ‘drive-in’ boathouse has been created over a specially constructed cave on the shore of Loch Tay. The result offers the inhabitants a unique living space which changes with the loch and allows both fun on the water and a retreat in tune with the environment.
RIBA Awards 2010
RIAS Andrew Doolan Award Finalist 2010
McKenzie Strickland
e-architect
Best Buildings
Urban Realm

  Working with the
Landscape 
  Respect the landscape setting
  and the traditional building
  patterns of the locality

  Responding to the
Site 
  Consider the immediate context
  and allow specific site conditions
  to influence design

  How to
be inspired 
  Inspirational ideas for
  sustainable, creative
  and innovative design
  • An impression of lightness is generated by the overall shape
    of the boathouse, akin to the
    wings of a bird or sails of a ship.
  • The building is carefully angled to complement the client’s main
    house nearby with particular
    focus on the roof design and the relationship between the angulated, raised zinc seam roof and the water.
  • The two angled columns are created from exceptionally lightweight steel and create a
    ‘free floating’ effect giving the impression that they are not so much holding the roof up, as holding it down.
  • Large amounts of glazing allow the building to take advantage
    of the views.
  • The glazing can be closed off by shutters to transform the internal space, when required, into a more private and intimate space.
  • The design team were faced
    with some technical
    challenges including the 
    problem of building on the
    water. A dam was created to allow the foundations to be constructed.
  • To tackle the problem of a
    build-up of water pressure,
    huge local boulders were
    used in the building of the
    walls allowing the water to
    flow inbetween.
  • Cedar shuttering, which
    glides open to reveal a glass expanse, completely 
    changes the look of the building – from solid to
    almost transparent – adding
    to the structure's intriguing ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ ability to transform into different characters at different times.

 Image © Keith Hunter

 

 

Page updated: Wednesday, March 07, 2012