Burnside

Elgol, Isle Of Skye

A faded 1950s advertisement revealed the character that decades of alteration had hidden at Burnside.

The traditional whitehouse stands in an exposed position at Elgol, facing the sea and the Cuillin. Successive changes had obscured its simple form, while the house needed greater comfort and much better environmental performance.

Recovering the original
An old Snowcem image showed the white render, individual dormers and bright doors and windows that once gave Burnside its identity. That evidence guided a careful restoration of the principal elevation, reconnecting the house with both its history and local memory.

A contemporary timber extension provides the additional space the family needed without confusing the original form. Old and new remain distinct but complementary: the whitehouse retains its familiar presence, while the extension responds directly to the landscape and changing light.

Improved insulation and fabric performance make the house more comfortable and efficient in its exposed coastal setting. The project also informed the development of the HebHomes WH202, translating lessons from a specific renovation into a flexible contemporary house type.

Burnside demonstrates that sustainability can begin with what already exists—repairing a valued building, improving its performance and adding only what is needed.