Breathtaking viewpoints

Kirsty Mcluckie on modern homes where the great outdoors can be appreciated as much as the interiors

While the summer might be drawing to a close, some contemporary house designs have the perfect layout to keep a connection with the outdoors all year round.

Double glazing, intelligent glass and high ceilings are all features which allow for the illusion of connecting a home’s interior with its scenic surrounds. It is a style that has a very Scandinavian feel, and has been responsible for some very spectacular houses.

Scone Cottage sits above Craobh Marina in Lochgilphead, Argyll, with wonderful open views over the Sound of Jura and Mull.

Built ten years ago with Galashiels timber frame firm Fjordhus, the property is dominated by wood and glass and has a ground-source heat pump and underfloor heating.

It has a fabulous double-height sun room with French doors and amazing views both front and back.

The main sitting room is on the first floor to make the most of the breathtaking outlook with sliding doors out to a glass fronted balcony.

Peter Gillespie at Savills says: “This house has an open, airy Scandinavian feel and sits very naturally in its beautiful surroundings, the views taking centre stage.”

Wardend Side at Birnie near Elgin, Moray, is a home set in a private location with breathtaking views over the coastline.

It has underfloor heating, a heat recovery system, solar panels and an air-source heating system.

The Boleyn is a house near Biggar, with an A rating for energy performance. The hub of the house is its open-plan living, kitchen and dining room, with double French doors opening out to a large decking area with views of the Clyde Valley.

Elsewhere, a property on Frogston Road West at Fairmilehead in Edinburgh has been remodelled to take advantage of its position. An airy open-plan interior leads out to a decked terrace with views of the Pentland Hills.

Snowdrop Developments is building at Chapelton, a new community five miles south of Aberdeen, with double-height windows and rooflights to make the most of the village setting.

It is a style that has a very Scandinavian feel, and has been responsible for some very spectacular houses