Croft 15, Inverkirkaig, Wester Ross

The clients came to us wanting an energy-efficient small house. As the clients work from home it was decided to install a large wood-burning stove with a back-boiler to provide the main source of heating, with an electric under-floor heating system installed to supplement this, as and when required. The house has a large proportion of storage to usable living space, with a large utility hall and larder to accommodate the owners’ crofting activities.

 

Sited on a remote 3-4 acre croft, the open-plan house does not stint on home comforts, with oak and elm used throughout and a walk-in shower. An open-plan study, situated on the top floor of the house, benefits from the heat produced by the stovepipe.

 

The building has been constructed with deep timber frame walls – allowing the house to be overly insulated. The house is clad in horizontal ship-lapped larch cladding, while the rear of the house is battened out further, clad in vertical board on board larch and framed with larger pieces of larch. The roof is clad in a dark grey aluminium profile sheet.