Glenmore Housing, Cairngorms Building, Sustainable Highlands Development, Scotland

Albyn Housing Society Project : Cairngorms Homes

New Timber Buildings in Cairngorms – design by John Gilbert Architects

9 Apr 2007

Housing Cairngorms

Recently nominated for 3 design awards:

– The Roses Design Award – Affordable Housing
– The Roses Design Awards – Sustainable Design
– 2009 Sustainable Housing Awards – Sustainable Smaller Social Housing Project of the Year

Glenmore Housing
Guided Tour of completed housing project near Aviemore
6 May 2009
Tour led by Matt Bridgestock from John Gilbert Architects

photos from architects

About the Glenmore project:

SUSTAINABLE TIMBER HOMES
Two timber houses, designed by John Gilbert Architects for Albyn Housing Society Ltd, will provide new homes for key workers. The project approach, derived from our research for the Forestry Commission into using local timber, is a pilot scheme to maximise the use of Scottish timber and sustainable materials for social housing.

A COHESIVE SETTING
All the structural, framing and cladding timbers are from homegrown forests. The house design incorporates ecological features such as high-level insulation, multi-fuel stove heating for main rooms and rainwater harvesting. In addition, the windows are positioned to make the best use of natural sunlight and the view of surrounding woodland area. New, native trees are mixed with the existing mature trees to create a cohesive canopy around the clearing, thus maintaining the forest setting.

SENSITIVE TO SURROUNDINGS
The houses have been built in keeping with the architecture of the Glenmore area, as seen at the adjacent campsite and visitors’ centre. The houses are specifically designed in the context of the location and there are high aspirations for them to become a benchmark for design and sustainability in the Cairngorms National Park. The Cairngorms National Park approved the project based on the quality and strong sustainable goals of the development.

Previously:

Sep 2008

SITE START FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING PROJECT

A new project to bring sustainable, affordable housing to Glenmore has started on site in Cairngorms National Park.

Two timber houses, designed by John Gilbert Architects for Albyn Housing Society Ltd, will provide new homes and employment for local people. The project, in partnership with the Forestry Commission, is a pilot scheme to maximise the use of Scottish timber and sustainable materials for social housing.

images from architects

Albyn Housing Society programme co-ordinator Helen Cameron said “We are delighted that this project is underway. The site, the former campsite shower block, was sold to Albyn Housing Society by the Forestry Commission under the Forest Land Scheme – an initiative which enables forestry land to be released for affordable housing. The project will deliver two sensitively-designed homes which will be economical to heat and run, which is so critical given current energy costs.”

Most of the building materials are environmentally friendly and from British sources,
while the house design incorporates ecological features such as high-level insulation, multi-fuel stove heating for main rooms, rainwater harvesting. In addition, the windows are positioned to make the best use of natural sunlight and the view of surrounding woodland area.

Project architect Matt Bridgestock from John Gilbert Architects said: “The main aim is to build functional and robust social housing, with the maximum use of Scottish timber and minimising the amount of energy and carbon emissions throughout the build and occupation.

“Developing markets and products for Scottish timber has a much wider social and economic agenda, providing investment and regeneration across the Highlands of Scotland.”

The timber structure is built to be in keeping with the architecture of Glenmore, as seen on the adjacent campsite and visitors’ centre. These houses are specifically designed to the context of the location and have high aspirations to be a benchmark for design and sustainability in the Cairngorms National Park.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) approved the project based on the quality and strong sustainability goals of the development. CNPA planning officer Neil Stewart said: “The proposal is for much-needed, affordable housing in a relatively accessible location and with a sympathetic approach to what is a difficult site. This is an exemplar project that sets a desirable precedent for similar affordable housing developments.”

New, native trees will be mixed with the existing mature trees to create a cohesive canopy around the clearing, thus maintaining the forest setting.

Bob McIntosh, Director of Forestry Commission Scotland, said: “The project with the Albyn Housing Society is a great example of how the National Forest Estate, through the National Forest Land Scheme, can help to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of people across Scotland.

“The project is doubly important because as well as providing local people with affordable and efficient housing it will also highlight the important contribution Scotland’s home-grown timber can make towards sustainable construction.”

Glenmore Housing Development iages / text from John Gilbert Architects Sep 2008

John Gilbert Architects have also recently received the following commissions:

BUPA Carehomes
We have recently been appointed as BUPA Care Homes sole architects in Scotland and will work on their newbuild and refurbishment projects across Scotland. This appointment was made based on our track record of delivering a range of health and residential care buildings, working with end users to design healthy buildings with healthy specifications (low allergen/ low VOC/ low toxin materials). Our first project with BUPA will be a new 26 bed project in Renfrewshire.

Clyde Gateway Design Statement
We have recently been appointed by the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company to produce a design statement for the Clyde Gateway area. We have recently held a workshop for the public and professionals involved in this area to outline their main aspirations for the area and are planning to hold further community consultations in the near future to gain local aspirations for the area.

Location: Glenmore, Cairngorms, Scotland