ROCK HOUSE // PERTH AND KINROSS


Rock House

PROFILE

Architect:
Client:  
Location:
Type:   
Description:

Awards:




Links:

Colin Andrew Smith Architect – CASA
Private client
Acharn, Perthshire
Single house
The clients were keen for the house to respond to the site allowing indoor/outdoor living.
DIA Awards 2008 – Best House Award Winner
Scottish Design Awards 2009 – Residential Award
Roses Design Awards 2009 – Bronze Medal (Residential)
Saltire Housing Design Award 2010
CASA
scottisharchitecture.com
Best Buildings
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 and linear plan of the Rock House was influenced by the Longhouses associated with the historical Clachans traditional to the upper Tay Valley.
  • The zinc clad roof curves to mimic the profile of a thatched roof and the structure is exposed to reflect the rural vernacular.
  • The roof, along with the house, is set into the rocky crag. This ensures that it maintains a low profile and has a minimal impact upon the landscape.
  • The external walls are clad in naturally weathering Scottish larch reflecting the surrounding trees and complimenting the soft grey zinc roof.
  • The roof has deep overhangs creating morning and evening covered decks providing shading in summer whilst maximising sunlight during the winter months.
  • The elevations exploit the views whilst maintaining privacy from the adjoining cottages.
  • The master bedroom is orientated to catch the east sunrise and uninterrupted views of the Loch.
  • With the orientation being linear on a north-south axis, all the rooms benefit from both morning and evening sunlight to maximise passive solar gain.
  • In contrast to the early longhouses, this house is not
    a series of impenetrable walls, but opens up to its surroundings.
  • A ground source heat pump provides under-floor heating
    and domestic hot water.
  • The entire structure was pre-fabricated off site and installed as a series of panels already
    with external and internal finishes. This construction ensured an airtight building, which is ventilated via a heat recovery system
  • The eco approach is integral to the design – the orientation, the form, the materials, the details and the procurement process – rather than a series of add on features.
 Image © Nigel Rigden

 

 

Page updated: Tuesday, December 18, 2012