NWMCWC | Isle of Mull, UK 2008

The West Ardhu community housing project comprises the design of a new settlement of fifteen affordable houses near the village of Dervaig on the Isle of Mull, NW Scotland.

The project combines masterplanning with the design of robust house types suitable for the unique and sensitive rural location. The development has been treated as a series of clachans, or microcommunities, allowing an informal and community-focused plan, with a character specific to the site.

The simple palette of materials and clear, well-proportioned forms, provides striking design at a very affordable cost. Timber from areas of community owned spruce plantation cleared for the development will be processed locally into cladding panels for the houses.