Modernity meets nature in Aberdeenshire’s idyllic countryside
A standout family home designed by Fiddes Architects. Given the mature trees, woodland, shrubs and ponds that paint the surrounding landscape, its suburban location may come as a surprise, and it’s this duality that appealed to the clients when they bought the plot. The resulting home is a fusion of modern luxury design and heritage – of the land, the local area and nature.
“With an abundance of nature, our clients very much wanted to create a home which nestled into the landscape and complemented its surroundings,” says Eoghain Fiddes, Director of Fiddes Architects.
While the single-story H-plan configuration is a radical change from the house and garage that stood on this plot before, traditional Scottish design features, such as the black corrugated steel roofing, can be spotted throughout. In a more contemporary move, large floor-to-ceiling windows frame the surrounding open fields and rolling landscapes. Combined with the building’s intentional angling at 13 degrees west, this maximises the natural light and sunshine that reaches the home’s interior.
Capturing nature’s many tones in the building materials
The home is full of design choices that ground the property in nature, including the considered use of our Thermopine® cladding. With its earthy tones and contrasting textures, this was central to elevating the new build’s natural feel.
The Thermopine is used internally and externally and coated in both grey and black, a two-tone approach that has grown in popularity in recent years. The boldness of the black (RAL 9005) nods to the black shingles that covered the former building’s exterior, and it is softened by the grey cladding in SiOO:X Mid Grey, which continues indoors in a thinner profile. The SiOO:X coating also helps avoid differential weathering, which is particularly important in shaded areas such as the recessed balcony and soffits.
“The building design is a cluster of three distinct forms broken by wall-to-wall glazing. By continuing the cladding through the interior, it helps to blur the lines between inside and outside,” says Eoghain.
On the outside, varying cladding widths mirror the nearby mature woodland, echoing the beauty of nature’s imperfections, and its vertical installation feeds into the home’s strikingly modern design. In addition, 142mm x 40mm projecting fins were added between external pillars, further blurring the lines between the building and nature.
“The intentional use of varying cladding colours, profiles and orientations add to the texture and character of the exterior while also helping to define the form of the building,” says Eoghain.
No details spared
The interior and exterior cladding has a fibrous Microtex® finish, and the Thermopine was supplied with two rounded arises (2RA) – meaning the front two corners of the board have been rounded at a 3mm radius. Both of these features help with coating adhesion and improve the cladding’s longevity.
The project contractor, Alan Buchan, used our SIHGA L-GoFix® MS Screws in black on the black cladding boards and in silver on the grey, delivering a seamless finish. Examples of Alan’s (and his team’s) meticulousness are evident throughout this project – particularly in the fin detailing, where the boards are installed with evenly spaced gaps between them.
“The end product in terms of finish and quality is itself a testament to the patience and attention to detail by the joiners,” says Eoghain.
This choice [of cladding] not only adds to the sustainable credentials but also defines the modern architectural form and ensures a respectful integration with the surrounding environment.
Eoghain Fiddes, Director of Fiddes Architects
Product advice as good as the views
Our 30+ years of experience meant we were able to match our products to the design intent. When asked about the balcony, we knew our secret fixings, SenoFix® FT, were the perfect choice. Designed specifically for use with Thermopine cladding and decking, these ensure smooth installation, meaning for the client, there’s no risk of unsightly overdriven screws and water traps while enjoying Aberdeenshire’s rolling hills over a morning brew. Plus, this helps increase the lifespan of the decking – creating the perfect viewing platform for generations to come.
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Thermopine® is an ideal substrate for coating with our range of Teknos paints, Woca oil or SiOO:X coatings.
