August 23 2022

Proctor & Matthews Architects have shown off two recently completed holiday cottages on the Isle of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides inspired by a traditional blackhouse.

Kirrin Cottages sit in a coastal landscape defined by croft houses, employing black corrugated metal sheeting punctured by boldly coloured window 'hoods' overlooking surrounding grazing land.

Bounded by a stone gabion wall and makes the most of views of the Cuillin Mountains, as well as island wildlife including deer, owls and eagles.

Harnessing off-site construction techniques the pre-fabricated insulated timber frame was assembled on-site with much of the work undertaken by the owner and cottage manager.

The cottages adhere to the Outer Hebrides Design Guide which promotes homes that work with the landscape character of the area.

5 Comments

#1 Posted by Auntie Nairn on 23 Aug 2022 at 16:33 PM

Nice. Turf roof from the sketch would have been a great addition.

#2 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 25 Aug 2022 at 10:35 AM

Stands out like a sore thumb -- everything else is white roughcast.

Next up the ferry question -- if you can't get there then no matter the design the tourist industry will falter.

File under trying too hard.

#3 Posted by Auntie Nairn on 25 Aug 2022 at 22:58 PM

#2 rather than this "trying too hard", you could argue that nothing else around is trying hard enough

#4 Posted by Grim Beeper on 26 Aug 2022 at 05:42 AM

#3 everything else around are crofts trying hard to eek out a living from the land. These holiday cottages are trying to hard to look like a converted outbuilding to entertain its users.

#5 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 26 Aug 2022 at 10:52 AM

I really do think that marginal rural Scotland needs to move on from subsistence agriculture -- try something different for a change.

Fair play to the people investing in holiday accommodation -- just a case they would have been better picking a hose design out of a catalogue and putting more effort into the garden.

What is the agricultural output from Benbecula at the moment -- is it increasing or decreasing?

Post your comments