Set on the hillside on the outskirts of Braemar, the Greenfields outbuilding commands a spectacular view of the valley with the River Dee winding its way across the basin floor eighteen meters below. It includes a small sitting room, living room, workshop, and a cosy loft room. The outbuilding provides a retreat for the occupant away from the worries of the world.

The client’s brief proposal was to provide a sympathetic refurbishment and extension to the semi-derelict and unused building to create a workshop and studio that benefitted the vernacular style of the existing building and took advantage of the views afforded to the site.

It was decided to create a sense of symmetry which respected the proportions of the existing building. As such, when viewed from one gable end to the other, the height and width of the building increase in a regular stepped pattern. This approach allowed for the extension to provide a substantial increase in floor area and an improved provision for access directly off the driveway – where before there was only an awkward descent of concrete slab steps to the lower garden level.

The building has been dressed in rough-sawn timber sarking boards painted green to match the existing building, with the windows and doors accented a deep shade of red. Large glazed sliding doors have been fitted to the now open-plan studio area, providing access to an external covered space overlooking the River Dee. Floor-level dormer windows provide ample natural light into the first-floor entrance vestibule while simultaneously creating volume within the space.