The exteriors of these Highland homes may be stunning, but the interiors are equally as striking, featuring modern takes on Scottish traditions such as stags, tweed and tartan.
Scotland's eyecatching interiors —
The exteriors of these Highland homes may be stunning, but the interiors are equally as striking, featuring modern takes on Scottish traditions such as stags, tweed and tartan.
Courtesy Nigel Rigden
These buildings frame their stunning views with large glass windows. "Traditional Scottish buildings are very solid, very low, often made of stone, with tiny windows to protect you from the weather [...] Whereas now we don't have that issue, now we have amazing technologies and amazing windows," explains Rural Design director Alan Dickson.
Loch Duich —
These buildings frame their stunning views with large glass windows. "Traditional Scottish buildings are very solid, very low, often made of stone, with tiny windows to protect you from the weather [...] Whereas now we don't have that issue, now we have amazing technologies and amazing windows," explains Rural Design director Alan Dickson.
Courtesy Nigel Rigden
The simple silver exterior of Tinhouse is complemented by the pops of colour in the 1960s-themed interior.
Tinhouse —
The simple silver exterior of Tinhouse is complemented by the pops of colour in the 1960s-themed interior.
Courtesy David Barbour
Rural Design are constantly experimenting with new forms and materials for their architecture: "Tinhouse [...] picks up on another tradition here, using wrinkly tin, galvanized iron, for buildings," says Dickson.
Tinhouse —
Rural Design are constantly experimenting with new forms and materials for their architecture: "Tinhouse [...] picks up on another tradition here, using wrinkly tin, galvanized iron, for buildings," says Dickson.
Courtesy David Barbour
Tinhouse is located in beautiful, rugged Skye: "The population of Skye in particular is rising," notes Dickson, "I suppose I like to think we contribute in a small way to developing an appreciation for the place".
Tinhouse —
Tinhouse is located in beautiful, rugged Skye: "The population of Skye in particular is rising," notes Dickson, "I suppose I like to think we contribute in a small way to developing an appreciation for the place".
Courtesy David Barbour
Rural Design do take note of Scotland's unpredictable weather in their designs: "One thing that we can't change: at the end of the day a dwelling here is a shelter from the landscape, from the wild weather," admits Dickson. The interiors are designed to be cosy and welcoming.
Tinhouse —
Rural Design do take note of Scotland's unpredictable weather in their designs: "One thing that we can't change: at the end of the day a dwelling here is a shelter from the landscape, from the wild weather," admits Dickson. The interiors are designed to be cosy and welcoming.
Credit David Barbour
Ultimately, Dickson believes Scottish architecture should be forward-thinking: "It does seem right that we should be trying to find an architecture that reflects our age, rather than reflects a time of a hundred years ago," says Dickson.
Tinhouse —
Ultimately, Dickson believes Scottish architecture should be forward-thinking: "It does seem right that we should be trying to find an architecture that reflects our age, rather than reflects a time of a hundred years ago," says Dickson.
Courtesy David Barbour
This Dualchas-designed property has a stylish interior to match its chic exterior: "I'm always looking at the proportion and scale of what I see around me, in quite an abstract way," says former Dualchas architect Mary Arnold-Foster, "But then doing something thoroughly modern."
Colbost —
This Dualchas-designed property has a stylish interior to match its chic exterior: "I'm always looking at the proportion and scale of what I see around me, in quite an abstract way," says former Dualchas architect Mary Arnold-Foster, "But then doing something thoroughly modern."
Courtesy Andrew Lee
"The idea of a holiday home has slightly changed because people can work at home now," ponders Arnold-Forster. "So there's a lot of people who are in between working in an office and retiring -- and having a bolthole in the Highlands where they can work and not work is great."
Colbost —
"The idea of a holiday home has slightly changed because people can work at home now," ponders Arnold-Forster. "So there's a lot of people who are in between working in an office and retiring -- and having a bolthole in the Highlands where they can work and not work is great."
Courtesy Andrew Lee
Dickson says Rural Design is inspired by the "ad hoc" nature of Highland architecture, praising "that composition of old and new".
Loch Duich —
Dickson says Rural Design is inspired by the "ad hoc" nature of Highland architecture, praising "that composition of old and new".
Courtesy Nigel Rigden
"We like our buildings to be authentic, in the same way that the buildings built 100 years ago or 200 years ago were authentic," says Dickson, "When you look at the buildings you can understand what they're made of, how they were built..."
Loch Duich —
"We like our buildings to be authentic, in the same way that the buildings built 100 years ago or 200 years ago were authentic," says Dickson, "When you look at the buildings you can understand what they're made of, how they were built..."
Courtesy Nigel Rigden