This example of contemporary architecture is located on a spectacular site overlooking the Solway Firth. The site is a steeply sloping, former quarry in a National Scenic Area. Part of the low energy features are the NorDan triple glazed windows, with warm edge spacer bars, thermally broken frames and inert gas filled to achieve a whole window u-value of 0.7W/m2K.

Designed by architect Simon Winstanley, the first floor of this new home forms the public living accommodation with an external terrace facing the sea, conceived as a glazed pavilion sitting on top of a masonry base. The pavilion is constructed with a standing seam zinc roof, glazed on the sides with views and panels of durable timber cladding. The ground floor contains the private bedroom and bathroom facilities and the lower floor contains the garage and main entrance. The base of the quarry is the only flat part of the site and this is used for car access and the entrance to the house. The masonry base is clad with natural stone matching the exposed rock face of the quarry.

The external walls, floor and roof are highly insulated and air infiltration is minimised. The property has a ground source heat pump for the underfloor heating and hot water system with a closed combustion wood-burning stove as back up. Micro generation of renewable electricity uses roof mounted Photovoltaic Panels. This house also has a whole house heat recovery ventilation system.

Fiona and James Denholm developed an early 19th century farmhouse just along the road from their previous home. They had identified the property as having some of the best views in the area, but it was in need of total renovation. No problem for an architect married to an interior designer!

“We lived in the house for many years before we began renovation so that we knew exactly what we wanted,” says Fiona. To make the most of the views, the couple glazed the length of the new extension, with NorDan sliding patio door products.

The 16m contemporary extension replaces an old flat roofed extension and incorporates the open plan living/ dining room room and a bedroom, bathroom and yoga room upstairs. Floor to ceiling windows in the dining area bring the outdoors in. Red deer are frequently spotted wandering through the 2 acre garden.

This dramatic red painted timber clad house nestles in a placed called Skellister at South Nesting in the Shetland Islands, the most northerly part of Scotland. It’s the most beautiful setting, right by the sea water and looks east over an enormous bay, enjoying the 180 degree views of wildlife and water.

The Architect was Gareth Elphinstone of Elphinstone and Howarth in Shetland. The oilman client was inspired by Canadian and Scandinavian designs seen on his travels to work around the world. The windows enjoy the effects of sun light on the site all day round. Ivan’s house is a highly insulated timber frame construction with wooden cladding painted with Valti water based paints. It is heated by an oil fired boiler which heats the concrete slab for the under floor heating system. The hot water is heated by an exhaust air heat pump. The Swedish roof tiles are 2 barrel palema tiles with the black finish. Benders concrete roof tiles are produced from cement, sand and iron-oxide directly from nature. “I think at first to live in this house that has been a dream for so many years will take a while to sink in! To take it from small doodle drawings on paper to being able to wake up in the morning in it is surreal for sure.”