Grand Designs – the oak-framed house in Argyll

Tony and Jo Moffat, both musicians with Scottish Opera, have long held a dream of a home in the countryside. They found a perfect site on the Clyde estuary in Argyll and Bute.

Our work on TV has often featured the unusual including the castaway pods on the Scottish island of Taransay where the transportation of the frames and indeed heavy lifting was done by helicopter!

Our work has featured no fewer than three times on Channel 4’s Grand Designs.

Client

Tony and Jo Moffet

Architects

Base Architecture

Subcontractor

Carpenter Oak & Woodland

Channel

Channel 4

More information

Andy Parker
Hall Farm
Thickwood Lane
Colerne, Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN14 8BE
United Kingdom

Tel: 01225 743089
E-mail Andy Parker

Located in a small village on a hillside, the plot that the Moffats found has glorious views as far as the isle of Arran and is less than an hour's drive from Glasgow. Having been inspired by local oak-framed barns, they gave architect Andy McAvoy an open brief. In return, he gave them a design that fused medieval and modern and promised a beautifully simple interior.

Grand Designs - Oak-framed house in Argyll, exterior view

The frame for this house was going to be challenging to build because of the dramatic blend of materials, making use of a medieval style of cruck frame along with stainless steel fittings. Carpenter Oak & Woodland were appointed to design, manufacture and erect this wonderfully contemporary timber frame which was built in our Scottish timber framing yard.

Grand Designs - oak-framed house in Argyll, interior view

The programme covers the project from conception to completion and the challenges faced by all of the tradesman involved. Sadly, due to the smooth running of the frame installation, our carpenters barely featured. Kevin McCloud commented that 'with all that had gone wrong so far, it was incredible to see this wonderful frame arrive and be erected in only four days'