Rescobie Pavilion by Kris Grant Architect overlooks Scottish loch

Nov 06, 2023

A steel frame and large glazed openings define Rescobie Pavilion, a hillside garden room by Edinburgh studio Kris Grant Architect that overlooks a loch in rural Scotland.

The two-storey pavilion, which is located in the garden of a 19th-century schoolhouse in the hamlet of Rescobie, contains both a workshop and flexible space for entertaining guests.

It was created by Kris Grant Architect for a family who wanted a space where they could be immersed in views of the landscape while being sheltered from the elements.

The design takes cues from the rural site, which borders a farmer's field and features a line of mature trees and a ruined dry stone wall on the eastern edge.

"The Scottish landscape is hilly and dotted with old dry stone walls and traditional farm buildings, all of which directly influenced the form of the building," studio founder Kris Grant told Dezeen.

Built into the hillside, the pavilion completes the line of the ruined wall. An undercroft housing a workshop and storeroom acts as a plinth for the upper storey.

Built of local stone, the plinth's solidity and form match that of a nearby cowshed, helping to ground the building in the landscape.

Meanwhile, an exposed steel structure rising on four columns frames the pavilion's upper level and supports a cantilevered balcony. A mono-pitched roof oversails the structure and provides shade in the summer months.

On the cantilevered wraparound balcony, a balustrade of slim steel posts and mesh panels creates a sense of openness and maximises views across the water.

According to Kris Grant Architect, the building is intended to immerse its users in the landscape, referencing the ethos of Australian architect Glen Murcutt.

Clerestory windows bring the low winter sun into the depths of the plan, while openings on all facades provide a connection to the outdoors and natural ventilation.

"[I see the] building as an instrument responding to the site-specific conditions of sunlight, ventilation and view," explained Grant.

Inside Rescobie Pavilion, the walls and ceiling are clad in birch-faced plywood, providing a warm and natural aesthetic. Bespoke shelving units line the walls and frame a wood-burning stove that heats the space at night.

A highlight of the interior is a panoramic corner window that is complete with a window seat and frames views of Rescobie Loch to the east.

"A corner seat is suspended above the garden, located to enjoy the afternoon sun and the final rays of the evening," said Grant.

Kris Grant Architect was founded in 2017. Rescobie Pavilion is its first completed project.

Other garden rooms recently featured on Dezeen include The Light Shed by Richard John Andrews and the charred-wood Bush Studio in New South Wales.

The photography is by Dapple Photography.

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