Taigh-Dubh

Information Shelter proposals for the Scottish Highlands. The structures aim at being iconic to act as recognizable beacons in the Scottish Highlands. The huts invite hikers and visitors to provide them with a shelter from the weather.

The shelters are three Black Houses entirely built out of locally sourced timber.

The inspiration behind the proposal comes from the traditional Scottish blackhouses (taigh-dubh) which had no chimneys for the smoke to escape through. Instead the smoke was making its way through the roof. The concept behind the shape of the new information shelters is in the same way to express a breathing roof which this time will be porous to light only, while keeping the rain out thanks to a glazed oculus.

There are many variations

The Black Houses have a unique exterior finish consisting of slender charred timber boards which will offer a stunning dark appearance. The technique is ancestral and has been used as an alternative to non-renewable cladding materials. It is proposed to use Scottish larch which is sustainable and widely available in Scotland. While larch is already naturally strong and durable, the charring confers another level of protection against decay and fungi.