Cairnconon Byre
Loader Monteith has completed a three bedroom home in rural Angus, Scotland. Cairnconon Byre embodies the clients’ experience with craftsmanship and a passion for the beautiful rural landscape.
Inspired by their years in the Highlands, clients Angie and Colin envisioned a home that would honour rural Scottish architecture while embracing contemporary living. The couple purchased a plot of land in Eastern Scotland in 2009 featuring an existing ruinous stone byre that has become an integral part of the new home. The reuse of existing onsite stone embodies Loader Monteith’s approach to material circularity, reducing carbon impact and preserving the character of local architecture.
Angie and Colin approached Loader Monteith having discovered a past project in the Cairngorms. The clients connected with Loader Monteith’s approach to working with old and new. Working in the construction and building materials industries, Angie and Colin briefed the architects to help them design a home they could craft and make their own.
Thoughtful integration into the rural landscape and connection to nature was a priority. Cairnconon Byre is arranged in an L-shape plan oriented to capture views of the surrounding landscape while preserving privacy. The home includes a living room, kitchen and dining area, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The design takes cues from the existing byre, with the walls of one of the two new volumes formed using its reclaimed Scottish Carmyllie stone. The sinusoidal coloured-metal roof, inspired by local agricultural buildings, ensures its durability and connects the new build with its surroundings.
Internally Cairnconon Byre is a celebration of natural materials and considered craftsmanship. Floated polished concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and wall panelling create a space that blends into the background and focuses on views across the landscape. The kitchen is a key gathering space connected to the garden, enhancing the close relationship the home holds with the outdoors.
A skilled joiner, Colin took on the roles of self-builder, project manager and carpenter, managing the complexities of building a new home in the aftermath of the pandemic. His wealth of experience and the couple’s creativity, firmed up their decision to self-build their home. Material shortages and weather delays added some project pressure, but the couple’s skills and unwavering dedication to the project ensured its fruition.
Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the project. The house features double glazing, high levels of insulation and airtightness, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery and an Air Source Heat Pump to ensure optimal performance in the Scottish climate. Reusing the reclaimed stone from the byre aligns with Loader Monteith’s commitment to employing green building practices.
As they settle into the building, Angie and Colin reflect on how their new home feels like it has always been part of the landscape, echoing the vernacular architecture of the region they cherish.
