Stunning Location on the West Coast of Scotland

Have you ever wished that you could see that view every time you looked out of the window, but wondered how on earth you’d ever build a house there? Carpenter Oak & Woodland’s Scottish Team rise to the challenges set by their clients inspired vision.

Project background

Architects Helen Lucas and Malcolm Fraser had found the perfect view for their new house, but the location may have proved too much of a challenge for many.....

Client

Helen Lucas & Malcolm Fraser

Architects

Helen Lucas Architects

Clients are often attracted to Carpenter Oak & Woodland because of our open minded approach to their concepts, and the fact that we believe that most projects – irrespective of design or logisitcs- can actually be built. We know this because we’ve specialised in the design, manufacture and site erection of bespoke heavy timber frames for over twenty years.

View on winters day The timber framed house will look out on this stunning view

Bothan nan Greag is contemporary house set right on the shores of the Sound of Arisaig. The finished project will have stunning views to the West and the islands of Rum and Eigg. For durability the external elements of the frame are in green oak whilst the internal elements are in fresh sawn Douglas Fir. The whole structure is supported on the green oak posts which land on concrete piles, thus reducing the environmental impact of large concrete pours.

The site for the new house

A very sustainable build, the external walls will be clad with feather edged oak boards over a Pavatex woodfibre insulation board system fixed to softwood studs. Because of the site’s remote and somewhat tricky location we have taken these elements into our contract, so that the clients can achieve a weather tight shell as soon as possible. The sustainable thread will be continued through the project by- amongst other things- using wool and hemp mix insulation batts within the walls, and from generating their electricity from a nearby burn.

The remote and tricky location are where our expertise and positive approach really come into to play. There is no road access to the site and infact part of our package is to construct a bridge/ walkway from the parking area, over the rough terrain to the site ( access for emergency services- a requirement of Building Control is by boat!). This also means that there’s no crane access and so careful consideration had to be given throughout the design and detailing of the project to the site assembly sequence. Add in factors such as transport and storage of materials from the main road to the site- not to mention the dreaded midgies- and this becomes quite a logistical challenge that many other framers would baulk at.

The clients Helen Lucas and Malcolm Fraser are both architects, and there eye for detail and design will be expressed in this stunning and ambitious project.