The adaptive restoration and extension of a highland bothy in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland.

What was the brief?

The clients gave us one powerful line of aspiration for their cottage: The house should feel warm and comfortable – a light-filled family space that allows the outdoors to be in harmony with the indoors.

The idea was to turn the cottage, a very small property that was disconnected from its surroundings, into a comfortable and understated mountain retreat. With three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a dining room and a snug, each space was to take advantage of the surrounding views – with windows framing the Cairngorms.

We wanted to make openings and point them at the view: a panoramic image of a dramatic mountainscape.

What were the key challenges?

Because the existing cottage was very small, we had to more than double the area of property – a significant challenge in planning terms. We worked closely with the local planning department to make sure we arrived at a design response they would support.