March 30 2023

An old basalt barn on the Isle of Mull has been brought back into use as a dining hall and restaurant championing local produce.

Croft 3 has been designed by fardaa to make the most of its coastal setting, opening up the interior to make the most of magnificent long views to the nearby Isle of Ulva across Loch Tuath Bay.

The first completed project by the practice sees the old barn transformed into a grand dining hall, joined by an offset timber clad extension housing a kitchen, small foyer and guest facilities. Interiors are defined by an exposed timber ceiling and floors, contrasted withwalls of raw plaster.

Presenting contrasting gables of timber and stone to the landscape the twin pitched forms evoke the geography of Ulva, standing as a stage on which culinary creations play out against a backdrop of architecture and nature.

Building a sense of drama before visitors have even stepped inside by routing arrivals along a road above and behind the restaurant, from which its long black roofs are fully apparent.

Edward Farleigh-Dastmalchi, founding director of fardaa commented: “As a London-based practice, we relished the opportunity to broaden our reach and contribute a new cultural connector that serves locals and visitors, with an added benefit of generating revenue on the remote island. Working in a rugged coastal setting such as the Isle of Mull was an opportunity to put our passion for crafting community spaces into action in a new and beautiful context.”

The restaurant is the brainchild of Jeanette Cutlack, who purchased the disused croft to accommodate growing demand for her busy restaurant, previously operated out of a home kitchen.

10 Comments

#1 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 31 Mar 2023 at 17:35 PM

A lovely barn, in an even lovelier part of the world.

However, it always surprises me when practices issue their press release promoting their project, drawing everybody's attention to it, when they appear to have started work without discharging their Planning Pre-start Conditions (in this case basic stuff - approval of finishes, approval of landscaping, demonstration of private water supply quantity, external lighting, external seating - Argyll & Bute ref 19/01529/PP).

Sort it out boys. And after that don't forget to apply for your Certificate of Completion.

#2 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 31 Mar 2023 at 18:01 PM

PS I see the restaurant thinks they're good to go and is actually open for business - www.croft3mull.co.uk - definitely sort it out boys!

If you're going to open a public building without addressing Conditions and Completion then it’s best to do it quietly - there’s no better way to goad an enforcement officer than a trumpeted announcement of an unlawful building occupation, and this press release is everywhere at the moment.

#3 Posted by FHM on 1 Apr 2023 at 07:33 AM

#1 and #2, I really hope you are not conferred the title Architect as even the most basic of checks will prove that a) you are incorrect and b) you are not even referencing the latest planning application. What a failure.

Sort it out Nairn's Bairn.

As to the scheme - what a joy it is to see such a well crafted and understated piece of architecture, even better one that retains an existing building. Bravo all.

#4 Posted by Davie M on 2 Apr 2023 at 10:38 AM

#3 FHM - to be fair to #1, the ‘most basic of checks’ will confirm that a) they are correct and b) the subsequent application 20/01904/NMA was just a non-material amendment, not a second planning application.

There is no record of discharged Conditions or Certificate of Completion anywhere (though if you can demonstrate otherwise please do so, I may be missing it - a link to a Completed Building Warrant on the Council website would do it).

Given the OTT, mildly hysterical level of support in your post, presumably you are linked to the job somehow, but I think you might be barking up the wrong tree here.

#5 Posted by A Quinn on 2 Apr 2023 at 19:41 PM

I had a look at this on the Council’s planning website out of interest (also to see the drawings - it looks very nice) and for what it’s worth, 'Nairn's Bairn' is right. There is no completion certificate (or evidence of it having been applied for), nor can one see any information submitted regarding conditions pre-start. A certificate of temporary occupation would have sorted it, but I don’t see that either. It may be that all this has just not been uploaded by the local authority but looking at other applications Argyll & Bute Council look to be on the ball in this regard.

So I don't know where ‘FHM’s information came from but it wasn't the Council's planning website (which is quite straightforward to negotiate) - not really sure if their response is based on anything other than a clearly impassioned point of view.

While with house extensions etc completion certificates are often forgotten about, if it's premises to be occupied by the public then it’s obviously important as it covers structure, escape, fire alarms etc - so not trivial. Letting the local authority inspect it for completion is very useful and can flag up issues that may otherwise have been overlooked.

I’m sure they’ll be able to sort it all out without too much trouble (other not being able to travel back in time to discharge the suspensive conditions). This sort of thing is not uncommon, but here I kind of agree with Nairns Bairn's point - a fanfare opening and international press coverage is probably best left until the i’s are dotted.

#6 Posted by Ross D on 3 Apr 2023 at 15:27 PM

#1 #4 #5 They appear to have notified the local council of the works starting and completing, which can be seen in the document associated with the full planning application. Not sure about the discharge of any planning conditions.

As far as I’m aware, there is no such thing as a certificate of completion for planning, only for building warrant.

It looks like they applied for their certificate of completion on 12th August 2022, but it says it’s not available, so could still be pending approval for some matters. See building warrant application: 20/00035/NDOM7 | Conversion of byre to form restaurant ( https://publicaccess.argyll-bute.gov.uk/online-applications/scottishBuildingWarrantDetails.do?activeTab=completionCertificate&keyVal=Q43ZEQCHMDP00 ). However, the local council’s website does say in caps: “PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BUILDING STANDARDS DOCUMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING”.

For what it’s worth, I think it appears to be very a successful project, carefully bringing the disused byre back to life with a contemporary, but fitting, material palette.

#7 Posted by FHM on 3 Apr 2023 at 17:20 PM

#6 finally, someone commenting with some sense! It does strike me as odd this whole conversation, and I am not sure what is more concerning; supposed Architects a) making such simple mistakes in understanding planning applications (including non-material variations) b) not understanding the process involved in completion or c) making negative comments about a building they have no vested interest in so trawling the Local Authority portals for something they can pick up on. It all smacks of jealousy really. Very sad.

Edit; I have nothing to do with this project as much as I would have liked to. It looks like a great addition to someone's CV. Hope it is a big success.

#8 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 3 Apr 2023 at 19:47 PM

#6 Interestingly a Completion Certificate for Planning is an idea that may be introduced (to ensure discharge of Conditions etc.) but thankfully hasn’t happened yet – that’ll be just another thing for agents to worry about. As you say the lack of Completion will likely just relate to some matters outstanding, and the date of Completion in the website will no doubt be updated when it's been attended to. As you’ll likely know, the contractor notifying the planning authority of commencement/completion does not equal discharge of Planning Conditions (though arguably should have flagged it) or the Completion Certificate. They'll sort it I'm sure, maybe with a Temp Occ as mentioned above.

#7 while every sensible fibre of my being advises me not to rise to this, I cant help myself, so

a) The only misunderstandings of the Planning Application process evident here are your own;
b) likewise the Completion process
c) Far from trawling websites, this project has a big shining light on it courtesy articles in Urban Realm, Architects Journal, Dezeen, Building Design, Wallpaper, Archdaily, etc - essentially blanket coverage. So I checked it out – the planning portal is where one can see the drawings and possibly learn from obstacles overcome by others. I have nothing negative to say about the building. It will be lovely when complete ????

#9 Posted by Any old ombudsman on 4 Apr 2023 at 10:05 AM

As an aside, I have a friend in the borders, who bought a derelict 50's decrepit pub, and made it into a wonderful restaurant and accommodation above via a two-stage warrant. An amendment to this warrant took 18 months from application for the completion certificate to actually get the completion certificate as Building Control kept adding points. Like Planning, these public authority fiefdoms have ZERO commercial awareness and exist not as a public service, but primarily as a pensionable sinecure.

As everyone should know, bureaucracies are self-serving, and it is noticeable the increasing amount of meaningless duplicate twaddle that Planning ask for that is also asked for by the Building Control process. After all, this is the (biology denying) Scottish Government we are talking about here. And you expect sense? Save our souls.

#10 Posted by FHM on 24 Apr 2023 at 14:56 PM

Just an update to those who were struggling with jealously and trawling Local Authority portals for information they could use for an angry UR post; you will be heartened to read that the Certificate of Completion has now been issued.

The dates on the LA portal for the application submission have now changed, so it does go to show that not everything you read online is true and presumably the business owner was indeed allowed to open to the public.

Oh well, the scheme is still lovely and hopefully I will get to visit one day.

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