Woodenhouse was designed and built by your hosts Gill and Alan who are also the founders of one of the Highlands leading architectural practices Rural Design. Woodenhouse was their very first project and it contains many of the ideas explored during the later development of their practice.
Gill and Alan relocated themselves and their young family to Skye in 2002. Woodenhouse was their very first project on the Island, it captured wide attention at the time and was the first contemporary timber clad dwelling on the island since the 1960’s. Whilst not alone in developing the new vernacular architecture their work has been hugely influential both at home and abroad. This work has won numerous awards and is widely published.
The work is typified by a robust simplicity. The buildings are designed to sit comfortably in the landscape and engage with their setting, whilst also being secure in the sometimes extreme weather. Always built by local tradesmen using locally supplied materials, they have attempted to encourage the investment in their architecture to become part of the economic support to the island. This has also resulted in the founding of another company, R.HOUSE, which has developed beyond all expectations, delivering and constructing prefabricated designs throughout the Highlands. R.HOUSE now supports over100 jobs on the island.
Some of the key designs of the practice are shown below. The Hen House is part of the permanent exhibition at the V&A Dundee. The Turf House is known to be one of Kevin McCloud’s most favourite projects on Grand Designs. Talla na Mara on the Isle of Harris has been a significant part of the economic regeneration of West Harris. Other renowned projects are Tinhouse, Black Shed, Invisible House, Larch House and Corrie.
Woodenhouse is now available for others to enjoy. Over the past two years it has been through a thorough refurbishment, introducing new elements to the house whilst retaining its hand crafted nature. The house represents a synthesis of Gill and Alan’s interests in architecture, arts, furniture making and photography.