Thomas Robinson Architects – what makes an award-winning house

It’s thrilling to win an award, and when this contemporary house in rural Stirlingshire, pictured, won the Herald Individual New Build Property Award we were delighted and surprised. Reflecting on winning sparked a discussion here at Thomas Robinson Architects on what makes an award-winning house.

We concluded that there are four important elements in every successful architectural project. First, you need a strong design story, which means being secure in your reasons for designing in a certain way. Second, creating a house that fits well in its environment is crucial, as no building should exist in isolation of what’s around it, in natural or built surroundings. Third, paying great attention to detail and using the best materials ensures a house exudes solidity, style, and fine workmanship. And finally, the house should feel good to be in, so it not only looks handsome from the outside, but the interior space flows smoothly, maximising light and views.

This house is interesting in terms of fitting into the environment. Our design involved embedding it into the natural curve of the land. This let us reduce the bulk of what is a very large building, allowing it to blend into the setting. It meant garaging could be concealed, creating a smaller footprint, and enabled contrasting external ‘rooms’ with different views.

We used many high-quality materials, including substantial natural Stanton Moor sandstone, which is always a pleasure to incorporate. Internally the house has a lovely sense of space, partly due to its huge steel frame, which permitted expansive open-plan interiors, and the double-volume gallery hall linking the two wings.

The clients love their new home. Through collaboration and discussion of ideas, we developed a sound design story, forging an enjoyable and trusting working relationship that contributed to the build’s success. This, combined with its drama and scale, made this home the award-winner it is.