Our client approached us with a vision to create a highly insulated, energy-efficient home incorporating high-performance windows and doors alongside sustainable heating and ventilation technologies. Situated close to the AWPR, the brief called for a modern dwelling that would harmonise with its rural surroundings whilst maximising southerly and westerly views across the plot.

Respecting the scale and character of neighbouring traditional buildings was fundamental to our design approach, ensuring the proposal would make a positive contribution to the area’s established vernacular. We conceived a 1½ storey dwelling that echoes the proportions of surrounding traditional homes and aligns with Aberdeenshire’s architectural heritage. The ground floor layout features an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space complemented by a separate private lounge, with rooms carefully positioned to capture views over the private southern and western aspects of the site, away from the AWPR. From the roadside approach, we established a traditional arrival sequence with a symmetrical front elevation and central entrance. A feature gable with balcony was introduced to capture southern sun and frame views across the existing landscape.

Material selection focused on a restrained palette combining longevity with minimal maintenance requirements. Following careful research into cladding options, we specified composite cladding boards that replicate the aesthetic warmth of timber whilst offering environmental credentials through recycled plastics and wood fibres, and eliminating issues of warping, rot or splitting. For the roof, metal standing seam was chosen as a contemporary reference to the agricultural metal roof buildings characteristic of the local area.

The completed dwelling successfully balances our client’s aspirations for sustainable, low-energy living with sensitive integration into its rural context. By drawing upon Aberdeenshire’s architectural traditions whilst embracing modern construction methods and renewable technologies, the design demonstrates that contemporary environmental performance and vernacular character need not be mutually exclusive.