Gartnerichnich Cottage

Kinlochard, Aberfoyle

Gartnerichnich begins with a simple act of restraint: retaining an old rural building whose imperfections give it meaning.

Near Kinlochard, the cottage belongs to one of the area’s oldest recorded farm townships. It was structurally unsound, but the clients wanted a comfortable contemporary home without losing the modest form and landscape relationship that had endured for generations.

Continuity rather than imitation
The cottage was carefully rebuilt, retaining its essential form while making subtle changes to proportions and openings. Extra accommodation is placed in clearly contemporary timber additions, allowing old and new to be read separately.

A later ancillary building containing further accommodation and a garage follows the same restrained language. Together, the parts form a small group rather than allowing the expanded programme to overwhelm the original cottage.

Performance and character
The rebuilt stone element retains the solidity of the historic structure, while lighter timber additions provide a quiet counterpoint. Behind the familiar exterior, modern insulation and low-energy systems transform comfort and environmental performance.

The achievement lies partly in how little appears to have changed: an uninhabitable cottage has become a durable home while its scale, identity and presence in the landscape remain intact.

Awards and recognition
Shortlisted, Glasgow Institute of Architects Small Residential Award 2024
Shortlisted as one of 21 projects across Scotland for the RIAS Awards 2025