Location: East Lothian, Scotland

Construction Value: £225,000

Client: Private Client

The Doo’cot Cottage is located in rural East Lothian and is part of the early 17th century Ruchlaw Estate.

The existing building is a single storey detached, two bedroom stone cottage. This has a small timber entrance vestibule, sitting room with a wood burning stove, 2 double bedrooms and a kitchen and bathroom in a small extension to the rear which is a later addition. To the north elevation, there is a garage within a lean-to form which is connected to the cottage.

Adjacent to the cottage is an impressive B Listed stone Dovecot with 2 low height storage rooms to its north elevation. The new proposals for the Doo’cot will retain all of the existing architectural features and the new build elements will expand the usable internal accommodation, ensuring the property can be inhabited for many years to come.

To the North, the existing garage will be converted into a Master Bedroom, with en-suite and walk-in-wardrobe. Due to the level change between the old garage and cottage, new internal steps will be formed to give access to this lower level.

In the central part of the existing cottage, most of the internal walls will be retained, but altered slightly and with the addition of some new partitions, make better use of the space available. This allows for a 2nd double/twin bedroom with en-suite, separate WC and storage.

The existing flat-roofed extension to the west is to be replaced with a new timber clad single storey extension with a red corrugated metal pitched roof. Although the footprint for the extension remains largely the same, by enlarging the existing opening through to the kitchen/dining space, the new layout creates a sense of openness and brings plenty of natural light into the cottage.

At the entrance to the property, the existing lean-to vestibule will also be replaced with a new vestibule which has the same aesthetic as the new larger extension to the west as described above.

The new material palette is designed to contrast with yet complement the existing red sandstone cottage. The specification of red corrugated metal roofing is appropriate for the area, tying in with the rural vernacular, while the Siberian larch rainscreen cladding will weather over time, resulting in a soft, silver aesthetic.

Works are due to commence on site Summer 2023.

Conservation / New-build / Renovation Interior Design / Sustainability

Appointment: Full Service (Stages 0-7)

Current Stage: 5

Briefing / Planning / Warrant / Tender / Construction