Ord Steading

Isle of Skye

The historic courtyard steading at Ord had fallen into disrepair when we were commissioned to transform it into a three bedroom home. A conventional conversion proved challenging, as the existing buildings offered limited room sizes and restricted views. Instead, the collapsed roof structures were removed while the original stone boundary walls were retained, allowing a new two-storey house to be carefully inserted to the rear of the site.

The retained walls continue to define the historic courtyard, which has been reimagined as a series of sheltered gardens designed by Chelsea Gold Medal-winning landscape architects Harris Bugg. The external works will be completed this summer with a fully bedded garden being established.

The new house is constructed from concrete and Corten steel, materials chosen to reflect the agricultural character of the site while providing a contemporary contrast to the existing stonework. Interior works have now been completed, with the lower floor being finished in a deep olive-coloured plaster to accentuate the subterranean feel to the spaces, while an oak staircase leads up to a light-filled and oak-lined volume. From here there are views to the canopy of mature birch trees to the rear and to the front, views over the courtyard and landscape beyond.

Internal photos by Richard Gaston, image by Harris Bugg.