The scheme is a community boatbuilding centre for a charity (Scottish Traditional Boat Festival), located in Portsoy on the North coast of Aberdeenshire. The building replaces 2 derelict stores, and was partially funded by Aberdeenshire Council, Historic Scotland, and the Aberdeen European Fisheries Fund. The client (STBF) is undertaking an ambition regeneration programme along the waterfront of Portsoy. The construction of the Boatbuilding Centre follows the renovation of the grade A listed Salmon Bothy several years ago, and a further development of a listed building into a bunkhouse, which is already on site.

The client (STBF) stages an annual boat festival in the town which draws thousands of people from around the world, in addition to their ongoing work with local children and the community. The project is comprised of a modern timber building, which has been slipped inside a reconstructed stone skin. Due to the setting of an historic harbour, no new openings were permitted in the stone walls, resulting in most of the natural light coming via a ridge rooflight, which runs the length of the building. Spaces are provided in the building for the construction of traditional boats, and the teaching of these skills to local school children. The volunteers from the charity played a large part of the project, and partially constructed the building themselves.