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'An Tigh Dubh' - Coll, Isle of Lewis (1998) This house was designed to retain as much of the character of the Hebridean blackhouse as possible yet with all the modern facilities. As with the 'tigh dubh' the house extends out the way - not up - with a parallel, independently roofed extension allowing for the additional bedroom space needed for a large family home.
External rigid insulation is used in the roof, which enables the rafters and sarking to be exposed in the large double-height spaces throughout. Other features include built-in box beds and a half partition between the kitchen and living area, which separates two stoves in the centre of the house. This maximises energy efficiency - a lesson from the original blackhouse.
Although the house is of timber frame and block construction it has a massive independent dry stane outer leaf wall, giving an exposed wall head which is topped in clay and turf. Extensive landscaping ties this house beautifully into the Lewis landscape. |
