ROOM WITH A VIEW
Taking on self-build is not for everyone, but Wilma Geddes took this Aberdeenshire project in her stride and created a home that is far from run of the mill, says Nichola Hunter
Tackling the self-build dream head on, Wilma Geddes' Aberdeenshire abode is striking in its simplicity
Flat, farmhouse and several more properties in between, Wilma Geddes has tried on a variety of properties for size. However, the best way to get exactly what you want? Build it yourself. ‘Views are incredibly important to me,’ explains Wilma, whose top priorities were flexibility and maximising surrounding views. ‘I stayed in a property where I knew there were great views outside but there was nowhere to see them within the property and it was so frustrating. Flexibility was also necessary as I knew I’d be living in the property alone, but I have five grown-up children so there needed to be space to accommodate them when they came to visit.’
Happy to convert or build from scratch, Wilma focussed her search on the Aberdeenshire countryside. ‘Location was key, something in the country but not too far up a steep, bumpy track. It would also be nice if it had a stream or a pond. A site with a bit of character.’
Surprisingly, Wilma’s site presented itself closer to home than she had anticipated. ‘I work in an art gallery/picture framer out in the country near Insch. The gallery owners also farm and were selling some sites on their land; this was the first of those.’
The sites included old farm steadings with land around them, and the one that Wilma was drawn to incorporated an old mill building and the desired stream. The next step was to find an architect. ‘My son was studying architecture and working at Tap Architects in Edinburgh and he mentioned the site to his boss. I did meet with an architect that was more local, but things didn’t quite click. I met with Neil Taylor at Tap, showed him the plans and he came up with several ideas. I could tell he was really listening to me and hearing what I wanted.’
Upon talking with Neil, it is clear the respect was mutual. ‘Wilma always listened to what we said and didn’t react immediately,’ says Neil. ‘She would deliberate and then come back with her considered views which was great. When a client is really thinking about what they want, it makes them a real pleasure to work with.’
While the client/architect relationship is always important it becomes even more so when a difficult site is involved.
‘The site was challenging because the mill was sitting right on the edge of this big change in level on the land and it was uncertain if the structure would
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Top priorities were flexibility and maximising surrounding views
be stable,’ Neil explains. ‘It also sits right at the edge of a little stream at the bottom end of the site. We had to come up with a design that incorporated the old structure but also find somewhere to fit the new accommodation in relation to that structure. The other problem was that the planners specified that the new accommodation had to be on the upper level because the river occasionally floods.’
Neil’s solution was to remove the roof from the mill, leaving the walls as a plinth and fitting the new accommodation on the top. ‘We came up with an L-shaped design, so you come through the hall into the open-plan wing with the bedrooms down the other side. This shape also allowed us to open up the views down the valley.’
When it came to the exterior Neil and Wilma agreed that a modern, agricultural appearance would fit in with the surrounding area and complement the stone mill. ‘It was a case of finding the right balance. It’s a new building so it needed to have its own identity and character, but you don’t want it to be completely alien in the landscape. It was an interesting process to work through.’
When Wilma first decided she wanted to embark on such a large-scale project, she yearned for a contemporary house. ‘I had a folder on Pinterest and every property was timber clad and most of them were black,’ she explains.
‘The slope of the roof is influenced by the agricultural barns and steadings in the area and also the materials we used such as the pressure treated Siberian Larch and the aluminium roof. Internally, the architect suggested the idea of a large sliding door into the
open-plan space, which is reminiscent of a barn door.’
For the internal layout, Wilma drew on experiences from family self-catering holidays. ‘I didn’t need a massive house because I live on my own, but I required flexibility, just as you do when you’re on holiday. I wanted two bedrooms and a separate room for my piano and teaching, which doubles as an occasional spare room with a sofa bed. I also required two shower rooms and WCs. When friends and family come, I’d want us to be in the same space, sharing the cooking, the conversation, not to be cut off in a poky wee kitchen. This meant the living, kitchen and dining area would be in one open-plan area.’
Locating the kitchen in this area did pose a few headaches, however. ‘The open-plan area was designed around the views and the natural light so we couldn’t put the kitchen in the corner as it didn’t work with the windows. We came up with the idea of fitting it along just one wall and this works well. It feels like part of the room, not a separate kitchen and the choice of pale grey units means it blends in.
‘I do find it an extremely easy and pleasant house to live in. People talk about self-build being stressful, but I didn’t find it so. I had somewhere to live while it was being done and I took the approach it will get done when it gets done. It was completed within a year and I was in by
August 2018. In some ways I feel like I’m on holiday all the time. It works very well for me on my own and equally well when I have family here. I have the flexibility
I require and, of course, the views.’