December 3 2021

A traditional Victorian villa on the Ayrshire coast has been lent a new lease of life by Brown & Brown Architects following a full refurbishment and extension.

House for a Chemist now centres on a glass and stainless steel wing positioned to maximise 180-degree views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran, respecting the site topography over split levels.

Conceived as a contemporary social space to complement the traditional qualities of the main house the extension takes the form of a closed timber elevation to the rear, sheltering external spaces from the worst that the west coast weather can throw at it.

Topped by a sedum roof to minimise visual impact, adhering to the client brief to 'create a whisper, not a shout' the project was assisted by Design Engineering Workshop and contractor Gordon Middleton.

In a statement, Brown & Brown Architects wrote: "The project has a sense of solidity, and robustness, appropriate for such a weather-beaten location, but at the same time the use of a simple and restrained materials palette creates uncluttered spaces of calm, which contrast with both the ornateness of the original house and the sometimes chaos of the weather beyond."

As part of the work, the historic 150-year-old main home has been fully insulated internally with spray foam and modern sash & case windows have been installed, retaining the original stained glass.

Photography by Edmund Sumner.

2 Comments

#1 Posted by MV on 3 Dec 2021 at 09:27 AM

I don't know these guys, but I do enjoy looking at their work!

#2 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 3 Dec 2021 at 12:08 PM

Rather nice! When's the empty?

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