In a world where we’re consciously making efforts to preserve and protect, architects are faced with new challenges in their practice. Do they build from scratch or look to adapt what’s already there? What are the long-term benefits of repairing existing structures? How can they meet the client’s brief and still have minimal impact on the planet?
For Murray Kerr and Rebecca Woodward at Denizen Works, such questions weren’t just theoretical. Their clients owned several old agricultural buildings that were ripe for conversion. They were clustered together, forming a sheltered courtyard, high on a hill on a stretch of beautiful countryside. The couple lived in one of the buildings, and wanted Denizen to tackle the large semi-derelict barn next door.
The clients were ambitious. They had been very impressed by one of Denizen’s projects on the island of Tiree. House No 7, as it’s known, seems to embody all the elements that have given the practice its reputation for progressiveness and edginess. Kerr and Woodward’s commitment to designs that reference and respect their location and history, while at the same time feeling contemporary, stylish and special, greatly appealed to them.
The architects’ concern was how to make something exciting and unexpected yet still fit for purpose from these traditional farm structures. “The clients came to us with a knowledge of our work and an admiration of our approach to materials,” recalls Kerr. “They asked us to renovate their empty barn and turn it into habitable accommodation. They wanted the emphasis to be largely on the interior, with minimal alterations made to the outside, but with a connection between inside and out.”
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Denne historien er fra January - February 2022-utgaven av Homes & Interiors Scotland.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Escape BOATH HOUSE
An inspirational Georgian manor house in the north-east offers sanctuary to artists, poets and the curious of spirit
Escape THE LOOKOUT
Sun-drenched interiors, right on the beach - it's hard to believe this is Scotland
"It still feels like home. Just nicer"
The owners of this house in Edinburgh didn't intend to give it a complete makeover, but once they started they just couldn't stop
A SCOTTISH LOVE STORY
You need passion to persevere through a lengthy restoration project. Thankfully for this rambling old lodge in Highland Perthshire, its new owners were already head over heels
CLEAN AND POLISH
Ten years in the making, this one-time dental surgery in Portobello has been reshaped as an elegant, practical family home
MEET THE MAKER RACHEL MACLELLAN
You might think the process is purely creative, but designing knitted textiles requires a deep understanding of geometry and pattern calculations. It is intricate and often mathematical. I have learned that knitting demands a constant balance between artistry and engineering. Creating a new textile involves not only selecting colours and yarns but also considering the tensile strength, elasticity and drape of the material. That way, I ensure the final product is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. To me, this blend of creativity and technical precision is a fascinating aspect of knitted textile design.
IN THE KITCHEN AT PARTIES
It's all in the details for this slick and multifunctional entertainment space
JUST A HINT OF PINK
This family-orientated Georgian kitchen gets an upgrade in both footprint and finish
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Beauty and the best of Scotland on the shores of Loch Ness
LAURA THOMAS
The environmentalist has become a very successful entrepreneur whose products are stocked by Scotland's best hotels