A modern kitchen with wood cabinets, a dining table, and chairs. The room has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and large windows that let in natural light, offering views of greenery and an outbuilding. A pendant light hangs from the ceiling.
Ardoch

19th Century Fermtoun Transformed

Ardoch

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

2012 — 2013

Client   Private Client
A decade-long project to restore and revitalise a collection of 19th-century agricultural buildings, to create a series of contemporary living spaces with sweeping views over the River Dee and Lochnagar.
A scenic view of a rural landscape with misty hills and dense forests in the background. In the foreground, there are rooftops of stone cottages surrounded by trees, with a cloudy sky above the serene countryside.

The Farm House

The hillside fermtoun offers a main family residence, a guesthouse steading, a converted blackhouse for entertaining, a glasshouse and an artist’s studio, each embodying the surrounding highland vernacular, and the region’s unique heritage, materials and craftsmanship. 

‘This project is a wonderful example of reuse and reinvention. There was a clear labour of love and an appreciation for the site and context as this abandoned property was brought in to this century in terms of technology and performance, while respecting and preserving much of the original character.’

AIA UK Awards Jury

Traditional and contemporary construction methods have been used to bring the buildings up to modern energy efficiency standards, while the use of robust, local materials retain their agricultural character. Partially collapsed walls and roofs have been reconstructed utilising stone, slate and timber extracted from the site, and original granite walls are complemented with contemporary interventions including bespoke steelwork and large section Douglas fir fins.

The main house, a 19th century highland ‘but and ben’, has been restored with the original 170-year-old graduated scotch slate roof lifted and re-laid in sequence over new pine sarking boards.

A quaint stone cottage surrounded by lush greenery and flowers at sunset. Tall trees line the yard, and another stone building is visible in the background. The scene is peaceful and rustic, with warm light filtering through the trees.
A rustic stone house with a wooden roof is partially obscured by lush green plants and colorful flowers. A stone pathway leads through the garden. A green watering can and a metal bucket rest in the foreground under a clear blue sky.
A cozy living room with a modern, minimalist design. Features a sofa, two chairs, a small round table, and a fireplace with wood storage. Decor includes framed artwork, books, and a neutral color palette with wooden accents.

‘An exemplar of contemporary repair, where the art and craft of existing buildings have been retold in a re-interpretation of their own architectural language.’

 RIAS Doolan Awards Jury

The Guesthouse

The guesthouse, the largest building on the site, provides additional study and living space to the main residence, while providing self-contained accommodation for visitors. The transformed main spaces follow pre-existing layouts, and new windows occupy existing apertures, preserving the original vernacular and form. Interiors as insulated and lined with clay plaster, to offer a seamless, spacious feel, and oak joinery enhances the minimalist rural aesthetic.

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Minimalist room with wooden walls and floors. Features a beige chair, a gray sofa with a dark throw, and framed black-and-white photos on a shelf. A coffee table with a magazine is partially visible. Cozy, warm ambiance.
Minimalist dining area with a wooden table and chairs. A simple vase with bare branches sits at the center. The background features a textured wall with exposed stone and wood elements, achieving a rustic, natural look.
A cozy indoor garden room with a glass ceiling. Green plants line a stone wall. A wooden table and chair are in the foreground. Two pendant lights hang from the ceiling. A stack of firewood and a ladder are in the corner.

The Glasshouse

A formerly collapsed farm store and sheepfold at the rear of the site has been reinvented as a glasshouse, serving as the backdrop to vines and lemon trees, and a two-storey steading has been repurposed as a private artist's studio and workshop.

A modern building with a wooden pergola, glass walls, and stone accents. The exterior features a blend of wood and stone materials, with a covered patio area. Lush greenery is visible through the glass. The sky is clear and blue.
A modern greenhouse with a glass roof and walls, housing potted plants and raised beds filled with greenery. Natural light floods the space, illuminating the lush foliage. Trees and a garden are visible outside through the clear panels.

‘Neither ostentatious nor grand, this farmstead-cum-home is an exemplar of contemporary repair’

RIAS Awards Jury

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A modern house surrounded by lush green trees and grass, with large glass windows and a stone wall on one side. The setting includes a backdrop of hills and a partly cloudy sky.

‘A unique approach to building and rebuilding heritage. No sense of exploitation, it is a mannerly and respectful example of living in the landscape. It is moving - and you cannot plan or design for that. Its craftsmanship set the bar. It is storied and a collaborative way of building. An example of a creative couple coming together to create something rare and artful. Magic flows from every window.’

Karen Anderson, President of the RIAS

The restoration includes an extensive conservation programme, including the addition of 450 native trees, the restoration of the kailyaird - a highland potager garden, and the protection of 50 rare aspen suckers, a conservation priority species. 

‘A successful interplay of preservation of history, contemporary functionality and sustainable design’

Detail Magazine

A rustic stone cottage with a chimney is surrounded by lush greenery and trees. In the foreground, there are several raised garden beds filled with green plants. The sky is blue with some clouds.
Partners
Joinery
Jacek and Waldi Zapała
Steelwork
Craig Monteith
Awards
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award ·Shortlisted ·2024
Architects' Journal Manser Medal / House of the Year ·Shortlisted ·2024
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland RIAS Award ·Winner ·2024
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Laurence McIntosh Award for Architectural Interior ·Winner ·2024
Scottish Design Awards Gold Award ·Winner ·2024
American Institute of Architects Small Projects Award ·Winner ·2024
Aberdeen Society of Architects Residential Award ·Winner ·2024
Architects' Journal Retrofit Award ·Shortlisted ·2024
Aberdeen Society of Architects Conservation Award ·Commended ·2024
Aberdeen Society of Architects Interior Design Award ·Highly Commended ·2024
Coverage

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