The timber-framed Turf House was commissioned by an ambitious couple set on building a low-energy eco-home and was completed for approximately $337,000 USD, including the cost of the land ($64,000 USD). In contrast to the traditional stone crofter’s cottages that dot the island, Turf House is a contemporary breath of fresh air that uses mostly natural materials to blend into the landscape. In addition to its green roof that supports 18 tons of earth, the home is clad in larch panels that will fade over time into a beautiful silver patina.
Related: Tiny Timber Fiscavaig House Rests on Stilts in an Ancient Scottish Landscape
Double-height windows oriented towards the sea bring in natural light and views of the surrounding landscape into the two-bedroom home. The natural, restrained materials palette is continued in the mostly bone-white interior, which is punctuated by modern furnishings and blue accents. To protect Turf House from Skye’s harsh gale-force winds and rain, Rural Design Architects optimized the building’s shape and reinforced the house with two steel goalposts embedded in a concrete base. The architects also installed double-glazed windows and doors able to withstand 100-mph winds.
+ Rural Design Architects
Images via Rural Design Architects, © Nigel Rigden
