Ancala

Isle of Skye

This two-storey house is cut in to a rocky escarpment near Armadale in South Skye, overlooking the Sound of Sleat.  It was deliberately located as close to the shore as practicable to make the most of site’s proximity to the sea and the stunning views.

The house functions as both a private home and a guest house. The entrance is at the upper floor where there is a shared lobby; to the right there is a guest lounge, with a staircase leading down to two en-suite guest bedrooms. To the left there is the homeowner’s accommodation, with a large open plan kitchen and living area on the upper floor and a master bedroom with bathroom below.

Much of the design is about creating an element of surprise. The long elevation of the entrance screens the view of the bay on approach – so when entering the house, the wall of glass over the water is all the more dramatic. The full height patio doors to the bedrooms give an impression of floating above the water when the tide is in; the sound of the sea and the sense of being close to nature is a constant.