THE BLACK SHED // HIGHLAND


The Black Shed

PROFILE

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Rural Design
Private client
Skinidin, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye
Single house
The Black Shed is a contemporary building that overlooks the small township of Dunvegan in the north west part of the island. Situated in a hillside position, the house has outstanding views of the loch and the surrounding countryside.   
Saltire Housing Design Awards 2009 – Commendation
Rural Design
scottisharchitecture.com
e-architect
Saltire

  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
  • The form draws on rural
    agricultural sheds with a deep
    plan and a low pitched roof enclosing a simple volume. It
    aims to characterise
    development as more than just white rendered croft houses.
  • The agricultural metaphor is apparent in the use of rough spruce board cladding with a corrugated fibre cement roof.
  • The aesthetic follows through
    to the interior with a polished concrete floor and an exposed structure of simple bolted flitch beams, sawn timber linings
    and the avoidance of trims
    and skirtings. 
  • Sheep wool insulation creates
    a further, albeit internal, connection to the landscape.
  • Large sliding shutters enclose
    a lobby, and this gradually opens out with the seasons.
  • Simple openings frame the moorland landscape.
  • A ‘cut-out’ in the plan creates an entrance space and allows the living space to connect to the 270 degree view.
  • This small (75m²) house
    has been designed as a
    prototype for the
    development of affordable
    houses for the Isle of Skye
    and beyond.
  • The house is clad with
    timber, both internally and externally, and an unusual feature is that it is insulated with sheep’s wool.
    This, together with the wood burning stove and under-floor heating, ensures that the house is energy efficient in its heating.

 

 

 

Page updated: Wednesday, June 27, 2012