a new family croft house

 A young local family had inherited their family croft in the west side of Shetland.  A priority was to build a new home to run the croft from. They wished to have a contemporary and bespoke design that was a practical and functional core of a working croft.

The site was on a vacant part of croft on the hillside of the sea inlet of Selivoe orientated to overlook the 'voe' and surrounding croft land. 

The client wanted all bedrooms to have a view over the sea.  A linear layout therefore provided bedrooms to the south and view with corridor and service areas to the north.  Living areas benefit from the best views and afternoon sun, the north entrance is sheltered from prevailing winds and by the enclosure of the garage.

Subtle detailing provides a richness and depth of interest to the design quality such as a gentle widening and curve to the corridor, accentuated external cladding joints, polished concrete floors, hidden roof flashings, shuttered concrete fire surround and veneered plywood joinery.

In 2021, the Government's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gugeon, has visited the 'The Ayres' as an exemplar for modern 'Croft' homes.