December 7 2023

East Dunbartonshire Council has given consent to replace a modest smallholding at Bardowie, near Milngavie, with a floating design to put the area on the architectural map.

Richard Pears Architect will reimagine the 2.6-hectare rural site by demolishing a simple pre-war home and barn for replacement by a one-off 5-bedroom property of 'site driven aspirational design'.

Fusing contemporary living with a modern interpretation of a traditional barn clad in coated copper panels within which elevated first-floor accommodation 'floats' over the recessive ground floor. This will be joined by a single-storey kitchen and dining wing set at right angles to the central block with glazed 'slots' helping them to be read as separate elements.

Detailing the inspiration behind the project Pears wrote: "The proposals while modern, are very much conceived from traditional rural forms and materials.

"The concept starts with two simple extruded forms familiar in the rural landscape arranged in a diagonal cruciform plan. As well as exploiting the panoramic views to the south-west, this creates a series of zones with different functions; the semi-public arrival to the west, the functional courtyard to the north, the east facing breakfast terrace, and a private south-west facing garden area to the rear."

Awarding consent the planning officer wrote: "Having taken account of all material considerations the proposal is considered to be acceptable in meeting the Development Plan. The proposal is compatible with its surrounds in terms of land use, design and scale and will not cause any unacceptable impact to surrounding properties."

The approved scheme contains several amendments to the design as originally proposed, chiefly the replacement of a pitched roof for a flat roof on the main body of the home. 

11 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 7 Dec 2023 at 11:27 AM

Cantilever you claim -- at best it is a covered balcony.

Probably trying too hard -- Lego design vibe needs energy from somewhere.

Maybe the loss of the pitched roof on the main element has removed the depth and subtlety that the original design possessed.

At least they were trying something new / different.

#2 Posted by Loves architecture ???? on 7 Dec 2023 at 12:14 PM

Wow! This looks incredible, what a fantastic architect you have- bold and brave! Good luck with your amazing project ????

#3 Posted by George Buchanan on 7 Dec 2023 at 12:28 PM

Simply stunning!
What a beautiful scheme. Hats off to you Richard Pears.

#4 Posted by FHM on 7 Dec 2023 at 13:21 PM

It always worries me how inept some commentators on this forum are. They are often angry, and presumably male, but FBOT struggles with cantilevers and many others struggle with understanding planning documents. I really hope they don't work in the profession.

#5 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 7 Dec 2023 at 13:28 PM

Traditional rural materials -- in a sort of Morecombe and Wise manner.

Yes they are traditional rural materials -- just not in the right places.

Ridged metal sheeting -- now on the walls instead of the roof.

Flat roof dominates the form that can be seen from the road -- not good.

Better to have gone with a 3/4 roof height for the first floor and kept the pitched roof.

The ground floor glazing is great.
The Cala spec / trendy mod style windows on the first floor -- not so good.

#6 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 7 Dec 2023 at 14:15 PM

The PR blurb / media response highlights a "cantilever" to the point of mentioning it in the headline.

However the only cantilever in the design is a covered balcony which to my mind is not a significant feature to any great degree.

Especially when compared to the glazed walls and slim structural framing of the ground floor.

Then you have the dogs breakfast of a triple garage with a prominent pitched roof being located next to a large scale house with a flat roof straight out of the late 60's modernist bubble.

Not a good mix especially as the kitchen wing that might have helped the transition is hidden away on the other side of the house.

Interesting materials with some clever ideas and detailing but overall it grates rather than inspires.

I fear Planning has just made things worse.

#7 Posted by Milngavie guy on 7 Dec 2023 at 15:11 PM

Totally out of character for the area. Looks a total eyesore.

#8 Posted by Regulation Richard on 7 Dec 2023 at 15:26 PM

How will this get past the new overheating regulations - time to strip back the glass at warrant stage.

#9 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 7 Dec 2023 at 15:46 PM

Good to see shipping containers being re-used in such an imaginative way - and sustainable too.

#10 Posted by Lovely on 8 Dec 2023 at 10:21 AM

The design is better than the usual dross but obviously not perfect. One question though is the efficacy during a 'climate emergency' of destroying the existing home to create this large and very carbon intensive beastie. Of course freedom of choice should be allowed up to a point and this strategy comes to us via the utterly daft VAT regime and a broken planning system, surely would it not be better to keep the existing house as well? Seems to be becoming more and more common to destroy small houses to re-use the planning rights to make a much bigger house in higher end areas. Seems counter intuitive in terms of efficiency and environment when you could simply keep the old house and build a new one as well given the shortage of housing and the environmental costs involved not to mention money costs too.

#11 Posted by Spam on 8 Dec 2023 at 12:20 PM

#7 I do remember the same Quote being made when Aldi arrived in the area.
Im sure the mullin gavie crowd will in time embrace it ! Now you are all giving it Yaldi At Aldi????

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