Today we’re bringing detailed photographs and information on finalists in the Small Scale Residential category of the awards. This covers everything from single houses to developments of up to 5 units – the norm for Argyll. We’re off to a superb start with these finalists – all single houses.

The thumbnail photographs above introduce them: top left, Alt an Duin at Kilmory, Achnamara; top right, Tir Nan Og at The Mull of Oa, Kilnaughton on Islay; above left, Tigh Na Dobhran at Arduaine on Loch Melfort; and above right, Tanglewood at Otter Creek, Ichrachan, by Taynuilt.

Below are more details of each of these buildings to help you decide on which you vote for – and responses of our own. We’d like to hear yours.

At the foot of this article are things to keep in mind in making your decision – the link to the Sustainable Design Awards online voting page and the link to our archive of previous features on this competition and on sustainable design.

Alt an Duin, Kilmory, Achnamara

The citation says: ‘This is a new house which replaces an older, pre-fabricated holiday chalet. It has been designed to reflect the former croft houses and byres that are typical of the area. The building uses natural materials – stone, slate and untreated oak and larch, which allow it to blend with its surroundings. The ground around the building utilises a recycled plastic grass re-inforcement system which means that natural drainage can be employed and here are no hard surfaces around the building’.

We’re curious about:

• the panels on the external walls – what are they made of and do they have a function as well as an aesthetic?
• the recycled plastic grass reinforcement system – what does it look like and what are its advantages?

We like:

• the way this building sits in the land – this looks an easy relationship
• the imaginative intrigue of the gallery above the kitchen – although its proximity to the sloping roof may be limiting
• the therapeutic strength of the natural materials

What about you? What do you think of this finalist and do you have information to share on materials?

Tir Nan Og, The Mull of Oa, Kilnaughton, Islay

The citation says: ‘This is a new 4-bedroom house on an elevated site next to the ruins of a croft house. The design works to maintain the historical relationship between buildings and the land. The use of stone walling and natural timber finishes combines to settle the structure in the landscape and he rear extension has a red corrugated roof which reflects the traditional construction and materials. The building is orientated to maximise solar gain and uses underfloor heating’.

We’re curious about:

• the interior – from the outside, it promises fluent interior space with good light and it would be good to see this
• the roof – it looks like reclaimed west highland slate – which fits the landscape well – but we don’t know

We like:

• the switch in line in the front elevation – where the verticals of the large sectioned window are swept into the horizontal lines of the timber section and the horizontal sections in the tall narrow windows set in the stone section.
• the use of the red corrugated roof in the rear wing, bringing the building belonging in its place
• the views: they must be staggering – those have to be the hills of North Antrim in the distant cloud

What about you? What do you think of this finalist and do you have information to share on materials?

Tigh Na Dobhran at Arduaine on Loch Melfort

The citation says: ‘This new house is on the shore side of the public road at Arduaine and is an unashamedly contemporary design. However, it employs elements – the black roof, the while walls etc – that relate to the Scottish rural tradition. The building is oriented SW/NE to make maximum use of solar gain while minimising at least elevational exposure to the prevailing winds. The building’s space heating is provided by a heat pump and geothermal well’.

We’re curious about:

• what looks like vertical aluminium panelling above the corner window on the NE (rear) elevation – what is it and whats the thinking?
• the reason for the separation of the two extensions on the NE (rear) elevation
• the projecting triangular windows on the SW (front) elevation – which are masked from the water by the greater projection of the white double-height mid-section
• the ventilation – it will be hot in summer

We like:

• the natural relationship of the contemporary design to its location – both SW and NE elevations sit well in their respective surroundings
• the overhang of the western gable – it must feel like the bridge of a ship inside
• the sense of secrecy and surprise, the light and shade in the interiors
• the use of different levels in the interiors
• the apparent rounding of edges in the plasterwork, softening the angularity and creating ease

What about you? What do you think of this finalist and do you have information to share on materials?

Tanglewood, Otter Creek, Ichrachan by Taynuilt

The citation says: ‘This is a new 4-bedroom house that uses natural materials – timber, stone and slate, combined with modern technologies such as a ground source heat pump for space heating. The split-level design takes advantage of the sloping site to provide a concealed basement and to integrate the building into the site and surroundings. The construction uses sustainable larch cladding, a slate roof and internal red cedar lining’.

We’re curious about:

• which direction it points in and what it sees from there – Otter Creek suggests it’s near water
• quite how the split level works in the interior

We like:

• the surprise of the expansive private elevation, after the self-contained public one at the higher level
• the angling of the main gable window
• the private balcony visible on the left side of the main picture above
• the embrace of the outside world and the access to it with the raised deck
• the shade and secrecy of the ‘undercroft’ below the deck

What about you? What do you think of this finalist and do you have information to share on materials?

Things to consider when you vote – on this and the other categories to come

At the foot of these voting notes there is the link to online voting and the link to the addresses of previous articles we’ve published on these awards and on sustainable design.

Keep the following things in mind as you decide where to cast your vote in this category – and stand by tomorrow for more detail on the finalists in the Large Scale Residential category.

• Does the architect seem to know about and to have used sustainable design in the building?
• Does the building work with its surroundings?
• How good is the design quality?
• Does the design seem original in the way it thinks about the building and its place?
• Do the systems used reduce energy consumption?
• Are the materials used from sustainable sources?
• Would the materials be good to live with?
• Does the workmanship seem good?
• Has the building contributed to the regeneration of a previous site or of a wider area? (This couldn’t always be the case.)
• Does the design offer wider community benefits? (This too will not apply in all categories.)

Voting

To refresh your memory on features already published on this innovative Awards scheme and find other stories related to sustainable design: click on our Sustainable Design archive.

When you’re ready, this is where you click to vote - and we’ll keep this link available every day in each article we publish on this exciting initiative – until 20th November, the end of the public voting period.

Voting rules are:

• You don’t have to live in Argyll to vote.
• You may vote only once for one individual entry in any one category.
• You may vote in each category.

See you tomorrow when we look at the finalists in the Large Scale Residential category. In the meantime, say what you think and share what you know via the Comments box below.

Related Posts

• Living in Argyll: sustainable design (1)
• Argyll Sustainable Design Awards 2009 event (2)
• Results: Sustainable Design Awards 2009 (6)
• Sustainable Design Awards: the Conservation finalist (3)
• Design Awards: now the vote for public buildings (2)

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