Over the seas from Skye
Susan Clare and Walter Larkin are long-time visitors to Skye and had followed Dualchas for years, often popping in for a chat. And in 2019 they asked, would you like to design a house for us in America?
The answer was a very prompt, yes, and the trip to Lake Geneva that year was definitely Neil and Rory's favourite ever site visit. There they not only explored the beautiful wooded site, but were shown the opulent gilded-age resort architecture and the extraordinary Lake Geneva steam yachts, one of which was being restored by Walter's brother Larry.
The long road to site
The design was developed back in Scotland, communicating closely with Walter and Susan throughout. But it was local consultants who dealt with the lengthy and sometimes extraordinary statutory process. This included a requirement to jack up an existing building near the site and move it wholesale to another location.
Through it all, the idea remained intact: a linear house among the trees, inspired by the form of a Lake Geneva yacht. The main living spaces, master bedroom and outdoor terraces are raised into the tree canopy beneath a broad overhanging roof, with the guest rooms and integrated garage below.
Construction began earlier this year, with completion due in May 2027. After seven years working together across the Atlantic, Neil and Rory are definitely looking forward to returning, this time to see Susan and Walter in their finished home.