Corriebeg

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

2022 — 2025

Client Private Client

Buildings · Private Homes

Located in Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, this project expands an existing high-performance home to support a growing family while strengthening its relationship with the surrounding landscape. Two pitched-roof volumes - accommodating a new living, dining space, office and a principal bedroom - are connected to the original building by a biodiverse green roof planted with native wildflowers, creating ecological continuity between old and new.

A modern house with a sloped roof and large windows, surrounded by snow-covered landscape, with hills and trees in the background, architecture by MOXON Architects.

‘Moxon have been a pleasure to work with. From initial visits to their beautiful studio, all the way through to completion of the build, their attention to detail and creativity has been so valuable. ’

Generous glazing and carefully positioned roof lights align with key arrival points along the circulation, drawing daylight deep into the plan and framing views across the agricultural setting. Local building traditions are referenced through the refined material pallet of slate, timber, galvanised trough-style gutters and expressed louvres, each detailed to deliver a contemporary yet contextually grounded character.

Snow-covered modern houses with varied rooflines and large windows, surrounding a yard with shrubs, against a hillside, architecture by MOXON Architects.

A practical and cost effective, yet inventive cladding strategy repurposes angled support-battens as the primary weathering surface, reducing material processing, eliminating board waste and introducing a subtle tonal variation to the façade as you move around the building. Sliding external louvres borrow from nearby farm structures while maintaining a cohesive architectural language and provide a cost-efficient solution to preventing overheating via the large format windows.

A modern building exterior with large windows, wooden slats, and black paneling, surrounded by snow, architecture by MOXON Architects.

A modern house with large glass windows and a sloped roof in a snowy landscape, with trees on a hill in the background, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Close-up of a modern building exterior featuring black wooden slats, vertical wooden panels, snow, and a glass window, architecture by MOXON Architects.

A modern house with vertical wooden slats and a sloped roof, situated in a snowy landscape, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Modern interior with a textured wall, built-in wooden shelves, and a large skylight, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Interior hallway with built-in wooden cabinetry and open shelving, illuminated by natural light, architecture by MOXON Architects.

The extension is designed to rigorous Passive House principles, combining high insulation levels, large triple glazed windows facing south and Mechanical Heat Recovery - resulting in a substantially reduced year-round heating requirement. The improvements are projected to raise the EPC rating from B to A, significantly lowering operational carbon and enhancing the comfort and enjoyment of the spaces.

Modern dining room with hanging pendant lights, a wooden table set with woven placemats and a floral centerpiece, neutral walls, architecture by MOXON Architects

Throughout the design, material selection prioritises low embodied carbon and local procurement. The timber kit, doors and bespoke plywood furniture were fabricated within 10 miles of the site, supporting regional manufacturing, reducing transport emissions and reinforcing local skills within the rural economy.

Interior view of a modern, minimalist living space with wooden walls, a large window overlooking greenery, and natural light, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Modern interior with a built-in fireplace, natural light from skylights, light-colored textures, and minimal decor, architecture by MOXON Architects

A minimal interior corner with built-in wooden storage and smooth wood paneling, highlighting clean, modern architecture by MOXON Architects.

The extension not only provides additional space but also unlocks the existing plan, creating long, uninterrupted views from one end of the house to the other and enhancing the legibility of the original layout. High-performance fabric and services requirements are integrated seamlessly, supporting rather than constraining the architecture so that technical aspects and robustness sit comfortably alongside the enjoyment, informality and playfulness of the design and its rural setting.