Boiling up a design award

‘The Kettle’ cafe-kiosk in Dunollie is, to date, the most structurally ambitious live-build project delivered by Tiree-based Tog Studio. ‘The Kettle’ reinterprets techniques of timber joinery and digital fabrication, first experienced on the Tiree Boathouse project, to produce a subtle, yet magical cantilevering structure. The structural system is concealed within the familiar form of a dual-pitched shed, but manifests into a cut-away corner that theatrically opens up the serving counter to the garden of the Dunollie Museum and Castle grounds. ‘The Kettle’ sits comfortably as a contemporary addition to the historic estate by referencing the forms of the adjacent 1745 house. Clad in blackened larch, the exterior nods to the black kettle that founded the museum’s collection, whilst connecting the building to the surrounding woodland. Diligent consideration has been given to the details and limited material palette of the building to achieve a strikingly minimalist appearance. The blackened larch cladding wraps its way from wall to roof with uninterrupted clean edges. In contrast, the exposed interior is finished with an enticingly warm blonde larch, which lures visitors in to shelter, linger on the recessed seating, survey the inbuilt display case, and select a cake that was freshly baked inside. ‘The Kettle’ replaces an expensive rented trailer servery, with a bespoke solution built by Tog Studio, Dunollie volunteers and an expert joiner. Now a visitor attraction in its own right, ‘The Kettle’ has boosted revenue and visitor numbers for the Dunollie Museum, a charitable organisation. Tog Studio fellows David Wyllie, Emily Stephen and Scott Simpson led the design of the project with support from the Tog Studio directors and structural engineering from John Bethune (Woolgar Hunter). David, Emily, Scott and John were joined on site by their fellows from the Boathouse build Kirsty Cassels, Ryan Cole, Michael Goodger, Patsy James, Matt Paton. Special recognition goes to local joiner Charlie Boyd who led on precision joinery on site.