WORK IN PROGRESS
FORMER COACH HOUSE
Mains of Taymouth, Kenmore, Perthshire
Construction commencement 2022
The former coach house at Mains of Taymouth Country Estate is a pitched roof linear byre with a lower pitched roof to the south side. It is situated on a flat site with views east across the estate, golf course and down the River Tay valley beyond. The building is of sandstone construction with a natural slate roof, and was formerly a restaurant/bistro comprising a large function room, bar, washroom facilities and small food preparation area. The east and west elevations feature a range of slit windows, with those on the east having been blocked up with stonework.
It is proposed that the existing linear byre building is retained and converted, mezzanine level created, and extension added to the northeast, to form six en-suite bedrooms of holiday accommodation. The proposed development has been sited and designed in such a way that any overlooking of the bedroom areas (from each other and from neighbours) has been kept to a minimum. The existing building was positioned with a strong north-south axis. The proposal seeks to complement this by adding a ‘return’, with the extension forming an L-shaped building and adding an east axis dimension. This orientation creates a conversation between the old and new elements and allows the proposed areas to take advantage of the daylight and views. As such, these areas will benefit from a higher degree of glazing and natural light.
The neighbouring buildings in the locality of the site area are a mix of residential and holiday properties owned by the client, all built in stonework, or finished in timber or render, with slate roofs. In respecting the local vernacular, the proposed building features stonework, timber and render materiality, 1 ½ storey forms complementing nearby buildings. The only departure from the immediate surrounding architecture is the use of full-height glazing and the sedum roof, which submerses the new building into the natural landscape.