Great Escape

A unique addition to this house in Troon makes a welcome departure from the ordinary

- Alexis Walker

Complete creative freedom is something all architects would love from their clients but few are ever lucky enough to get. So when the owners of this house in Troon requested an addition to their home that simply had to be “interesting and unique”, their architects were immediately inspired. They also knew they’d have to build something really special to justify their clients’ trust.

Designing and constructing the new addition, a spa/pool room with an external kitchen and lounge, was not a straightforward project by any means, but having permission to try something different resulted in an incredibly impressive and highly individual home.

The owners had started off simply wanting a bright and airy space where they could relax with their family. They loved their house, so didn’t want it altered, but were keen to add something that would be a contrast with what was already there. The area they had in mind wasn’t big enough to accommodate a standard swimming pool, but there was room for a ‘swim spa’ pool – a compact fitness pool with powerful counter-currents at one end and an integrated hot tub at the other.

Thomson Hunter Architects won the commission, and they turned to Oakwrights for help tackling the project, as Iain Hendry, manager at Oakwrights Scotland, explains: “Thomson Hunter created the initial design concept. We’ve partnered them on a number of projects, so they approached us to design and incorporate a green oak frame into the pool room.”