Strone Cottage – Scottish Highlands
The clients gave Loader Monteith architects a powerful line of aspiration for their cottage: The house should feel warm and comfortable – a light-filled family space that allows the outdoors to be in harmony with the indoors.
The idea was to turn the cottage, a very small property that was disconnected from its surroundings, into a comfortable and understated mountain retreat. With three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a dining room and a snug, each space was to take advantage of the surrounding views – with windows framing the Cairngorms.
The studio wanted to make openings and point them at the view: a panoramic image of a dramatic mountainscape
Because the existing cottage was very small, Loader Monteith had to more than double the area of property, which was a significant challenge in planning terms. They worked closely with the local planning department to make sure Strone Cottage arrived at a design response they would support.
