Blakeburn cottage

This project involved the complete overhaul of a nondescript mid-20th Century dwelling in order to create a unique and elegant home in a rural location near Melrose, Roxburghshire. Given the prominent position of the existing building any new works had to be articulated to minimise the visual impact of creating a much larger building on the site.

  A full internal strip out allowed the architects to create flexible accommodation on one level, featuring double height space in all rooms that fully engages the roof pitch void. The client, a writer, works from home and the brief prioritised the quality and relationships between internal spaces. The internal arrangement was therefore conceived as a series of cellular spaces particular to her activities during the day. All rooms are linked by a corridor that runs the length of the north elevation, and also functions as a gallery.

To the east end is the writer’s studio space, where multiple picture windows frame different views to the morning light filtering through the woods. This space is also accessible directly from the master bedroom (and bathroom) which sits between the studio and the large living room. At the west end of the building, capturing late afternoon and evening sun is the kitchen and dining space. As in all the main rooms this also features large windows to allow key views to the surrounding countryside together with direct access to the south facing the terrace and the orchard beyond.

Blakeburn cottage, Melrose, Scotland
Program: single family house renovation
Architects: A449
Structural engineering: SDC
Landscape architect: Rachel Smith
Contractor: Ainslie Contracting
Completion: 2016