Diabeg

Wester Ross

At Diabeg, the remains of a stone crofthouse became the anchor for a new home rather than an obstacle to clear away.

The two-bedroom house needed to retain the ruin’s memory while providing contemporary comfort in an exposed Wester Ross landscape.

Old and new in conversation
The former sheep shelter was carefully taken down and rebuilt in its original stone and proportions. Beside it, a matching gabled volume is wrapped in untreated larch, allowing the two periods to remain distinct.

The stone wing contains the principal bedroom; the timber wing holds the open-plan living space, bathroom and guest room. Between them, a frameless triple-glazed link repeatedly brings occupants into contact with weather, sky and landscape, giving the compact house an unexpected sense of space.

Reused stone provides enclosure and permanence, while the larch walls and roof will weather naturally. The glazed connection remains light and recessive so the history of the crofthouse stays legible.

Client story
For Chris Johnson, Diabeg was a shared creative process. Neil Stephen and Ian brought a clear architectural vision while remaining open to his ideas, allowing the design to become something neither client nor architect would have produced alone.

“Most importantly, they were prepared to engage with me and my ideas so that it became a shared creative process. The house at Diabeg is fabulous, both to look at and to live in. I love it.”

Chris Johnson
Client

Awards and recognition
Best New Building, Highlands and Islands Architecture Awards 2022
Featured in Coast, Leibal, Thisispaper, Gessato and Journal du Design

What the judges said
“Beautifully considered, this is an example of rural housing at its best. An exquisite delight and joy which makes us consider what we actually need in life.”

Highlands and Islands Architecture Awards, 2022

What we said
“We are thrilled that the judges recognised what we were trying to achieve, but this was only possible because we had an ambitious client who was committed to doing something special. All work is a collaboration.”

Ian Hall
Project Architect, Dualchas

Photography: Richard Gaston and Pierce Scourfield