Taigh-Dubh is a proposal for a series of information shelters in the Scottish Highlands. The structures act as landmarks while offering protection from harsh weather.
Each shelter takes the form of a contemporary black house. Together, they create recognisable beacons within vast and open landscapes.
Context & Intent
Hikers and visitors often need moments of pause in the Highlands. Therefore, the shelters provide refuge, orientation, and information.
At the same time, the structures needed to feel rooted in place. The proposal responds directly to local building traditions and materials.
Architectural Inspiration
The design draws from traditional Scottish blackhouses, known as taigh-dubh. Historically, these buildings had no chimneys. Instead, smoke escaped slowly through the roof.
Taigh-Dubh reinterprets this idea. Rather than releasing smoke, the roof now breathes light.
Form & Spatial Concept
Each shelter appears as a compact, pitched volume. The silhouette feels familiar from a distance and striking up close.
A glazed oculus sits within the roof. As a result, daylight filters into the interior while rain stays out. This detail reinforces the idea of a living, breathing roof.
Material Strategy
All structures use locally sourced timber. Scottish larch forms the primary cladding and structure.
The exterior finish relies on slender charred timber boards. This ancestral technique improves durability while avoiding non-renewable materials.
Sustainability & Craft
Larch already performs well in exposed climates. However, charring adds further resistance to decay and fungi.
Consequently, the shelters achieve longevity with minimal maintenance. They also express a deep connection between craft, material, and landscape.
Variations & Adaptability
The system allows for multiple variations. Shelters can adapt in size, orientation, and placement.
This flexibility enables deployment across different Highland sites while maintaining a coherent identity.
Outcome
Taigh-Dubh proposes architecture that is modest yet iconic. It shelters, guides, and marks the landscape without dominating it.
Ultimately, the project celebrates tradition while translating it into a contemporary and sustainable language.
You must be logged in to post a comment.