Dwell : Woodshed home tour
an awareness of the outside when within
'Responding to its stunning location, this cross-laminated timber home near Edinburgh, Scotland, trades the traditional notion of the stone country cottage for a more contemporary Scandinavian look.
..."We wanted to move away from the solidity and introversion of traditional stone-built farm buildings to something with a lighter touch. This meant views out to the hills, and an awareness of the outside when within. It also meant one main double-height space rather than the more traditional approach of compartmentalizing into smaller spaces."
'It was important to the couple that the cottage fit into its rugged, hilly environment, so they preserved the existing trees on the site. Kebony wood was used for exterior cladding, which quickly weathered to a natural silver to match the surrounding trees.
The ground level has polished concrete floors, while the stairs and loft-level floor are made of engineered oak lightly glossed with whitening oil. The subtle silver and white tones of the timber work beautifully with the oak and concrete.
Although its finishes are modern, the home respects the traditional cottage vernacular found throughout the region. By combining a gabled roof with a carefully chosen palette of materials, the architects gave a nod to the cottage's inspiration—the traditional agricultural woodshed.
"The Westside Woodshed is a sanctuary in the hills that’s uplifting, light, and spacious, yet at the same time snug and protective."
Because the site is exposed to wind and rain at certain times of the year, they knew the cottage needed to be not just attractive, but practical too. The corrugated steel roof is a carefully choreographed shade of grey that doesn't draw attention. Traditional dry stone dykes run through the landscaping and along one side of the building to further a sense of ‘belonging’ within the landscape.'
by Michele Koh Morollo
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