Culnacnoc

Isle of Skye

At Culnacnoc, the landscape feels almost other-worldly: a Jurassic terrain of cliffs, rock, moorland and sea on Skye’s Trotternish peninsula. The challenge was how to place a building within somewhere so extraordinary without diminishing what made it special.

The answer was a small retreat that becomes part of the croft itself, using its existing stone walls, local materials and the contours of the land to create a sheltered place for two within this elemental landscape.

Built from the croft
An existing drystane wall became the starting point. Carefully repaired and incorporated into the building, it contains a frameless window that brings the old croft structure directly into the interior.

A second wall of locally reclaimed stone wraps around the retreat and folds into the landscape. Turf continues over the roof, reducing the building’s presence from higher ground. Arrival is contained and sheltered before the compact plan opens towards panoramic views of the sea, Rona and Raasay.

Materials and experience
Rough local stone and turf create protection and weight; inside, precisely detailed birch-faced plywood and clay plaster bring warmth and softness. The continuous plywood lining integrates openings and built-in elements, making the small interior feel calm and coherent.

Now operating as Elysium Skye, the retreat feels simultaneously protected by the landscape and immersed within it. Existing fabric, reclaimed materials and a low profile allow the architecture to intensify the experience of this extraordinary place without competing with it.

What guests say
“It was even better than the photos which we didn’t think was possible... It was the best property we have ever stayed in in our 10 years using Airbnb.”

Christina, Fort Wayne, Indiana