Modern balanced approach reaps magic rewards

A stunning cantilevered house has attracted plaudits in Whitecraigs near Glasgow, writes Kirsty Mcluckie

Tragerhaus in Ayr Road, Whitecraigs, on the southwestern outskirts of Glasgow, is definitely a unique home.

Its name comes from the German word “trager”, a verb which translates into English as meaning something somewhere between carry and support.

As a name for the Whitecraigs house, it refers to the distinctive cantilevered design which gives the impression that the top floor, which stretches out over the first floor decking below, is held up as if by magic.

It was designed by architect Murray Henderson of the Glasgow-based Haus Collective, and it has been named by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland as one of their top-100 houses since the turn of the century.

The owners, James and Linda Laws, commissioned the design. They bought the land, plus a flat in the next-door traditional house in which they first resided, back in 2001, with a view to obtaining planning permission and building a family home.

However, a move with their engineering company took them to Sydney, Australia for almost a decade and Linda says that the project was also stayed by the wishes of the local community.

“While we were one of the neighbours in the building next door, our downstairs neighbours at the time weren’t keen on a build as they felt it might be disruptive.

“We honoured their wishes but a decade later we revisited the possibility of building a house on the site.”

The couple were looking to create a UK base for their family, which includes a son who is currently living in Germany and a daughter based near London.

Linda was also inspired to build big by her collection of works by contemporary artist Hugh Miller, as his outsize paintings definitely needed some wide and high walls to accommodate them.

The building work has been going on for the last two years. Linda says: “It has been a slow process because we were away, but we have also been very particular on all the details and so the builders needed to contact us in Australia for every decision.

“It is probably not a build route I would recommend to anyone else. It would be best to be in the same country, but it was done at a leisurely pace which suited us.”

She says the architect designed the house from scratch. “We went to [Henderson] and described the site which slopes quite steeply so that informed the design,” she says. “It is backed into the earth at the rear and the bank of windows at the front overlooks the golf course.”

“When you are sitting out there you watch the seasons change and the outlook is magnificent.”

Linda adds: “We also told the architect of the way our family worked. I like all of us to socialise together so it was really important for the public spaces to be openplan and welcoming.

“In Scotland, big open space can mean cold rooms but it is very cosy inside.

“The cantilever is seven metres and with nothing underneath it seems to be held up by smoke and mirrors but it is all about a world-class design.”

Tragerhaus is over four floors. The top two levels house a recreation room and a vast master bedroom suite with its own sitting room, plus as an integral garage which is on the ground floor at street level at the back.

Down a storey is most of the public