A VOTE FOR independence

TAKING A STANDARD KIT HOUSE AND MAKING IT BESPOKE HAS RESULTED IN AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT, WELL-DESIGNED HOME THAT TICKS ALL THE BOXES

- Catherine Coyle

Having the freedom to do exactly what you want is a luxury that most of us never get to experience, least of all when it comes to something as significant as the house you live in. Paula Harte, the owner of this new-build in Moray, is one of those who has reaped the benefits of complete autonomy – even if doing so wasn’t part of her plans at first. In fact, it was only when her search for a house to buy ended without success that she decided to try the self-build route.

Harte, originally from the south of England, is a keen walker who had long hankered after a new life in Scotland among country landscapes, close to the sea but not too far from civilisation. “I just couldn’t find the right house during my search,” she recalls. “At the same time, I was struck by the positive culture of self-building in Scotland.”

Going back to basics, away from the frustrations of the property market, began to appeal more to Harte, and she switched her focus to finding a plot. During the course of her research, she visited a homebuilding exhibition and got talking to the team from Architeco, a Dunoon-based practice with projects across Scotland; discussing her initial ideas with lead architect Colin Potter helped to pin down her ‘must-haves’, giving him a clearer idea of how to create the home she had in mind.

Harte’s principal desire was for a well-insulated, energy-efficient building, with a simple form that would complement her lifestyle, that would cost little to run and have a minimal impact on the environment. As one way to achieve this, she asked the architects to come up with a design that would maximise solar gain. All of this spoke to Architeco’s strengths – the practice specialises in sustainable design and low-energy buildings, and has particular expertise in Passivhaus construction.