Raasay distillery and visitor centre plan unveiled
May 26 2015
This would see flanking 1980s built extensions to the Victorian Borrowdale House demolished or remodelled by ABIR Architects to make way for a production facility, visitor centre, visually distinct from the main house.
Faced by thick stone walls in reference to the geology of the island the visitor centre is intended to be low impact, with a green roof
The home itself would be converted into a ‘contemporary Highland lodge’ with a bar and tasting room at ground floor level and overnight accommodation above.
In their design statement ABIR noted: “Pedestrian access from the higher level carpark will allow visitors to approach the building through a landscaped setting which sweeps round, cutting through the slope to a reception area in a new ‘visitor’s centre’ element to the south of the original house. This building will be glazed along its front edge allowing the space - which will share the additional functions of cafe, shop, orientation, interpretaion, display and exhibition - to open up to the panoramic view across Churchton Bay to Glamaig and The Cuillin.”
A full planning application for Raasay Distillery is expected this September with completion not expected until 2017.
Roofs and walls will be planted to complement the landscape
A simple palette of glass, timber, concrete and local stone will be employed
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17 Comments
#1 Posted by james on 26 May 2015 at 14:14 PM
I like this. It's sensitive.
#2 Posted by CADMonkey on 26 May 2015 at 16:04 PM
James, at the risk of sounding like Big Chantelle, why do you think this is "sensitive"?
I'd like to know what I am missing here.
I'd like to know what I am missing here.
#3 Posted by Vic Ferrari on 26 May 2015 at 16:52 PM
More parasitic than sympathetic.
#4 Posted by John Glenday on 26 May 2015 at 17:43 PM
I'd posted some out of date visuals for this scheme. The present iteration is now displayed.
#5 Posted by james on 26 May 2015 at 18:38 PM
#2 cad monkey
No, I don't think you are missing something, unless i am mistaken.
My comment was solely based on image 1 of 2 ie the previous iteration. Since then, UR have posted up-to-date images which are positively clunking and not sensitive in the slightest and downright aggressive/defensive ie stealth-like in form.
Hope that clears that up.
(it must've been the client or the planners who are guilty of meddling with the original :-)).
No, I don't think you are missing something, unless i am mistaken.
My comment was solely based on image 1 of 2 ie the previous iteration. Since then, UR have posted up-to-date images which are positively clunking and not sensitive in the slightest and downright aggressive/defensive ie stealth-like in form.
Hope that clears that up.
(it must've been the client or the planners who are guilty of meddling with the original :-)).
#6 Posted by james on 26 May 2015 at 18:51 PM
#2 cad monkey
just realised i never really answered your query in my last response should you be talking about the original one (when i looked at the times of the posts)
Sensitive?
Well, i looked at the architects website and their work and thought not bad. So specifically with image 1, I Liked the use of traditional form and abstraction, the balanced verticality and horizontality, the scale of components and texture and with the drawing itself that led me to think it was fairly feminine and mercifully testosterone-free.
and so rather than all that i just said 'sensitive'.
just realised i never really answered your query in my last response should you be talking about the original one (when i looked at the times of the posts)
Sensitive?
Well, i looked at the architects website and their work and thought not bad. So specifically with image 1, I Liked the use of traditional form and abstraction, the balanced verticality and horizontality, the scale of components and texture and with the drawing itself that led me to think it was fairly feminine and mercifully testosterone-free.
and so rather than all that i just said 'sensitive'.
#7 Posted by Vic Ferrari on 26 May 2015 at 23:17 PM
The updated one is even more parasitic.
#8 Posted by james on 27 May 2015 at 08:58 AM
dear Vic,
For the sake of the discussion, I think it only reasonable for me to ask you to explain your comment 'parasitic' for either version. i know its confusing.
But the 2nd one i could see as 'plagiaristic' and well out of context (ie sculptural dutch roof forms (see the architects previous work and there it is) set against a colonial Victorian Scottish 'villa'.
Parasitic? - i don't know. - would like to though :-)
For the sake of the discussion, I think it only reasonable for me to ask you to explain your comment 'parasitic' for either version. i know its confusing.
But the 2nd one i could see as 'plagiaristic' and well out of context (ie sculptural dutch roof forms (see the architects previous work and there it is) set against a colonial Victorian Scottish 'villa'.
Parasitic? - i don't know. - would like to though :-)
#9 Posted by Dom on 27 May 2015 at 12:54 PM
Strange that they have chosen to employ an architect based in Brighton when there are two highly respected and established practices on Skye
#10 Posted by Vic Ferrari on 27 May 2015 at 13:55 PM
@james. From Wikipedia: Parasitism is a non-mutual symbiotic relationship between species, where one species, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host.
#11 Posted by james on 27 May 2015 at 14:23 PM
Hmmm. Hopefully, without being too pedantic (by the way, i do actually know what a biological parasite is, but thanks for the definition anyway) but still remain unclear as to how exactly your use of this relationship of parasitism metaphorically and linguistically 'works' pertaining to architecture. I am genuinely interested.
#12 Posted by james on 27 May 2015 at 14:56 PM
http://www.gerjanstreng.eu/files/T02%20essay%20parasitic%20architecture.pdf
It's an interesting read.
Somehow, I don't think this is what you meant. I suspect you may have used the word parasitic pejoratively whereas its meaning is anything but. Like when the character Ash describes 'Alien', he does so in rather glowing terms, eerily admiring the parasite's intelligence. ;-)
It's an interesting read.
Somehow, I don't think this is what you meant. I suspect you may have used the word parasitic pejoratively whereas its meaning is anything but. Like when the character Ash describes 'Alien', he does so in rather glowing terms, eerily admiring the parasite's intelligence. ;-)
#13 Posted by David on 27 May 2015 at 15:10 PM
...jeezo...bring back Kevin Toner
#14 Posted by Carol Anderson on 28 May 2015 at 09:04 AM
Presently this property has a cheap 70's wing built on to the old Borodale house. The property is an eyesore and had been lying empty since winter 2012. As someone who walks past this property every day the suggested visuals are a vast improvement. We (Raasay residents) are supporting this exciting project. 'parasitic' implies the opposite of what this project will represent to this island.
#15 Posted by Carol Anderson on 28 May 2015 at 09:09 AM
Oh and Dom the architect is actually based on Raasay. You lot need to put your hand bags away ????
#16 Posted by Neil C on 28 May 2015 at 10:46 AM
#14 Why keep Borrowdale House Carol, is it an important building? Not judging at all and good luck with it but it seems to me the challenge that is not being met currently is reconciling the two structures. Why not have a completely new building?
#17 Posted by CADMonkey on 28 May 2015 at 13:18 PM
This proposal is obviously getting some flak on this forum.
I'd be interested to know who gave Urban Real the permission to create the news article and post the images.
Presumably if it was the author then they knew a degree of criticism was likely given the nature of this public forum.
I'd be interested to know who gave Urban Real the permission to create the news article and post the images.
Presumably if it was the author then they knew a degree of criticism was likely given the nature of this public forum.
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