A modern stone and wood house with large windows sits on a grassy hillside. The foreground features wildflowers, while rolling hills and trees stretch into the distance under a soft, golden sunset sky.
Chapel Brae

Chapel Brae

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

2021 — ongoing

Client   Private Client
Sited on the northern slopes of Auchendryne in Braemar, this family home steps with the landform to overlook the River Dee. Conservatively addressing the public street to the south with stone, slate and timber, the internal spaces dramatically open up to the views to the north. 
Modern homes with large windows and stone exteriors are set on a grassy hillside. The landscape features wildflowers and trees under a cloudy evening sky, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
A minimalist architectural floor plan sketch with various interconnected lines and rectangles, depicting the layout of a building's interior rooms and corridors on a white background.
Architectural site plan depicting a rectangular property with a detailed layout of a house and surrounding greenery. The house has multiple sections and the plan includes driveways, trees, and nearby structures.

Organised into two wings; private to the west and more social spaces to the East; the plan is arranged as a sequence of rooms to meet, eat and enjoy life around the home. The primary suite and living space are positioned at the end of each wing to capture the vistas across the strath.

A serene scene with wooden cabins and dark roofs nestled among lush greenery, set against a backdrop of green-covered hills. The foreground features a field with tall, sunlit grass.
A modern house with a stone and wooden exterior stands in a grassy field. A large window reveals a softly lit interior with minimalist decor. In the background, trees are silhouetted against a cloudy, dusk sky.

A fabric first approach utilising passivehouse levels of insulation, performance glazing and robust detailing will minimise operational energy losses. Reclaimed granite transported from a local stockpile of downtakings will form two masonry armatures around which the predominantly timber construction of each wing is arranged. Projecting eaves and cantilevered gutters extend beyond the wallheads, encircling the building with a sheltered external perimeter.

A modern, stone house with large windows sits on a grassy hill. The sky is overcast, and the surrounding area is dotted with trees and wildflowers. The house features sloped roofs and blends with the natural landscape.
Partners
Structural engineer
Graeme Craig Consulting Engineer
Contractor
Brudon Joinery Ltd

Related projects

A minimalist sketch of a small house on a hillside, surrounded by tall pine trees. The house has a pitched roof, with a person sitting on the porch. The landscape features a gentle slope.

Lilybank
Aberdeenshire

Wooden beams and supports form the framework of a building under construction, with stone walls inside and some construction materials visible in the background. Leafless branches are in the foreground.

Lui Cottage
Braemar

A quaint stone cottage with a red-roofed extension sits amidst tall grasses under a moody sky. Patches of sunlight illuminate parts of the house, creating a striking contrast with the dark clouds above. Bare trees are visible in the background.

Coldrach
Aberdeenshire

Projects Studio News
Email
Instagram
LinkedIn
Privacy notice  •  Terms of use  •  Site credits
©2025  •  All rights reserved  •  Design by Modern Activity