Cuddymoss

OUR APPROACH

Our research and documentation of the ruin’s two-century history charted the site, building materials and landscape through a patchwork of modifications.

We carefully repaired the ruin – revealing historical alterations and re-instating infilled openings – and remade the roof with reclaimed Scottish slate. A single opening was added to the front elevation, clearly pronounced with an aluminium projecting frame.

Within the ruin, we introduced a simple timber framed structure with windows set back from the stone elevation creating deep reveals and distinguishing new and old. Connected by a glass link, a new building sits perpendicular as a simple pitched volume emulating the ruin’s form and proportions. Clad in naturally weathering larch across the roof and walls, the building is restrained to compliment the stone structure and landscape.

A utilitarian outbuilding completes the cluster, with the natural landscape brought to the edge of the house offering close views of long natural grasses.

Internally, floor levels follow the site topography and a contained palette of materials – including polished concrete, exposed steel, stone and timber – creates consistency between the new and old elements of the house. Accommodation includes a central kitchen/dining space, a living room with large frameless windows, bedrooms and a workspace.

RESULT AND IMPACT

Our collective aim was to avoid restoration as a romantic gesture, instead retaining the ruin and gently elevating its narrative with a considered addition to the landscape.

Interventions have been honest, prioritised material reuse and facilitated future adaptation or complete removal of the new structures.

For our nature loving client, the window seat is his favourite place to observe the seasons and watch buzzards flying overhead. Our integrated spaces for birds and bats have successfully attracted owls and kestrels, and a nesting space has seen two sets of owlets raised over the last few years.