“We had been looking for a plot to build on in


Tobermory which is almost impossible in the mid- dle of a conservation area except that we had a huge two-storey shed in our garden.” Hoping to develop what was classified as a rownfield site, Jane applied for planning permission to build a bold, contemporary, two storey home. “I had written a book, Contemporary Design Secrets, about how to design contemporary houses in both landscape and conservation settings. I showed the planners the kind of work I did, and they were very supportive.” Also in Jane’s favour was another small,


modern intervention which had been built at the end of the lane and the planners agreed that they would complement each other. So much so, that Jane’s permission came through in six weeks.


Jane and David’s wish list was straightforward – the main living space and bedroom upstairs to tae advantage o the views, a lightfilled studio space for both of them downstairs, outside living space upstairs, and a small garden.


DESIGN APPROACH Building in a conservation area, Jane was keen to minimise the impact the build would have on its surroundings. “Tobermory has many buildings


16 www.sbhonline.co.uk


with big stone gables and large chimneys. The rt House has these, and we wanted to reect that in Origami Studio [the new house] by build- ing a solid masonry gable to face onto the lane.” Another obvious solution to help the building blend in was to retain the walls of the old shed to use as a boundary wall. “We cut them down into a stepping shape that broke down the mass of the existing walls. It got rid of any overlooking issues and gave the neighbours privacy.” Jane explains how she applied the same principle inside: “There’s a lot of glazing, but we made sure we had strategically placed solid walls, so we weren’t looking onto other people’s gardens.”


When it came to the actual structure, Jane per- haps surprisingly did not opt for a timber frame. “I think it’s the wrong thing to do in a country that’s so wet. Also, with houses that have a lot of large, glazed areas if it’s a lightweight building there’s nowhere for the heat to go. I prefer heavyweight construction with double-skin blockwork walls which are plastered which gives tremendous air-tightness. When the temperature rises inside you have con- crete walls and oors which asor that ecess heat, and it takes out the peaks and troughs creating an even temperature.”


mar/apr 2022


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