Lower Tullochgrue, Aviemore House, Scottish Highlands Real Estate, Scotland Modern Architecture Photos

Lower Tullochgrue in Aviemore

24 Nov 2021

Lower Tullochgrue Shortlisted for 2021 Saltire Housing Design Awards

photos : Chris Smith

2021 Saltire Society Housing Design Awards Winners

26 Feb 2021

Lower Tullochgrue

Design: Brown & Brown Architects

Location: Aviemore, Scotland

Lower Tullochgrue is the refurbishment and extension of a traditional house in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. A dilapidated steading has been replaced by a contemporary extension, with a timber and glass upper volume above a stone plinth, with the existing topography of the site maintained at all times.

The brief was for the creation of a home which could be used by numerous members of a large family, both collectively and in smaller family groups. This drove the creation of large social spaces, separate guest accommodation in the form of a small separate block, and refurbishment of the original house to provide bedrooms for different members of the family across a large age range, with varying levels of mobility.

The client originally came to us with the brief of extending the existing house into the adjacent steading, which was 3m lower than the house, and 6m away, in addition to being on an irregular angle to the house. Our approach was to take down the steading, reusing the materials from it, before creating a replacement stone plinth, atop which could sit the main body of the extension, allowing for consistent floor levels between the historic and contemporary elements.

An existing access track informed the limits of the extension, and was the driver for the building being larger at first floor, where it cantilevers over the track. The client keeps their grandparent’s 1960s Ford Falcon at the house, and the size of the car generated the spacing of the exposed steel column supporting the first floor, which had to leave a space wide enough to permit the passage of the car.

The clients were involved throughout the design and deliver stages, by ongoing collaborative design aimed at determining how they, and their wider family, intended to live and use the site. This led to the creation of the separate games block, a guest suite with enhanced accessible sanitary accommodation for elderly relatives, a small spill-out space for when the house is full, and many other elements.

What was the brief?
To create a large family home in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, by extending a traditional house, for use by extended family.

What were the key challenges?
The extension was to replace a steading (or barn) building, which was 3m below the existing house, and 6m away.

What were the solutions?
To remove the steading building, and create a ‘heavy’ stone plinth for the lower floor, with a ‘lighter’ floor of timber and glass cantilevering above it.

Key products used:
Local natural stone
Siberian Larch
Natural Slate
Blackened Stainless Steel

What building methods were used?
Masonry with natural stacked stone to the lower floor, steel frame with timber frame between for the first floor, and natural slate for the roof.

What are the sustainability features?
The extension is insulated to far in excess of building regulations, and is heated by a cascade air-source heat pump system, which allows only part of the system to run when the house is only partially occupied.

Lower Tullochgrue in Aviemore, Scotland – Building Information

Design: Brown & Brown Architects

Structural Engineer: Design Engineering Workshop

Contractor: Spey Building & Joinery

Project size: 370 sqm
Site size: 5315 sqm
Completion date: 2020
Building levels: 3

Photographs © Gillian Hayes

Lower Tullochgrue, Aviemore images / information received 260221 from Brown & Brown Architects

Location: Aviemore, Scottish Highlands, northern Scotland, UK

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