Cliff House

Galtrigall, Isle Of Skye

Cliff House begins with a simple contradiction: panoramic views across Loch Dunvegan lie to the north-east, while the harshest weather arrives from the south-west. The clients wanted a modest two-bedroom home that felt open to the horizon yet private, sheltered and discreet within north-west Skye.

Our response
The house sits beyond a ridge and borrows from Skye's agricultural buildings, which are often cut into the ground for protection. Two contrasting elements organise the plan: a solid volume containing the entrance and services, and a more open volume for the principal living spaces. A Caithness stone wall shelters the rear, while a natural dip in the topography makes the entrance almost disappear.

The view is deliberately concealed on arrival. Only after entering does full-height glazing reveal Loch Dunvegan, turning the transition from enclosure to openness into an essential part of living in the house.

Materials and atmosphere
Caithness stone and Scottish larch give the exterior a robust character suited to the exposed landscape. Their horizontal coursing unifies the building and reinforces its low profile.

Inside, polished concrete floors and pared-back detailing keep attention on the changing landscape. Clerestory glazing brings east and west light through the interior over the course of the day.

Recognition
Completed in 2013, Cliff House received an RIAS Award and RIBA National Award in 2014 and was shortlisted for the RIBA Manser Medal, then awarded annually to the best new house in the UK. It also received a Saltire Housing Design Award in 2014.

The house has been published internationally, including features in Dezeen, ArchDaily, RIBA Journal, IGNANT and Archilovers.

Photographs: Andrew Lee and Alistair Nicholls