Architecture Office Extends Cairngorm Cottage in Aberdeenshire with Reclaimed Granite
Architecture Office has finalized a single-story addition to Cairngorm Cottage in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, replacing a gloomy extension from the 1970s. Designed to create additional family space while maintaining the Victorian home's essence, the new structure includes a kitchen, dining area, utility room, and entrance hall, all oriented towards the garden. The use of reclaimed granite walls and deep-set windows reflects the original cottage's design. Each granite piece was selected based on its color and size, with lime mortar contributing to a cohesive appearance. Lightweight aluminum accents brighten the walls. Inside, the warmth is enhanced by clay plaster and Scottish ash joinery, crafted by Silvan Studio under Architecture Office's design. The kitchen boasts a central island, oak flooring, and Yorkshire stone countertops. Photography by Richard Gaston.
Key facts
- Architecture Office designed a low-lying extension to Cairngorm Cottage in rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
- The extension replaces a small, dark addition made in the 1970s.
- It contains a kitchen, dining room, utility and entrance hall.
- Reclaimed granite walls, coursing and deep-set windows echo the original cottage and nearby buildings in Cairngorms National Park.
- Lime mortar with a traditional Scottish slaistered finish creates a continuous, monolithic quality.
- Interiors use clay plaster and Scottish ash joinery, fabricated by Silvan Studio.
- The kitchen has units around a central island, oak flooring and Yorkshire stone worktops.
- Studio director Alexander Mackison said the design creates a strong yet subtle relationship between old and new.
Entities
Artists
- Alexander Mackison
- Richard Gaston
Institutions
- Architecture Office
- Silvan Studio
- Loader Monteith
- Baillie Baillie Architects
- Dezeen
Locations
- Cairngorm Cottage
- Aberdeenshire
- Scotland
- Cairngorms National Park
- Dulnain
- Iorram
Sources
- Dezeen —