Doors Open
As part of the programme for Power of Place it was decided by the Shetland Architectural Society www.shetlandarchiteure.co.uk to hold a specific open-doors event where they could open their homes and homes of clients to members of the public. The event has been organised to coincide with Shetland’s Hamefarin (14 – 26 June 2010. Details of all the homes, directions and opening times are listed below:
Bernard & June Redman’s house at Ham Station, Ham, Bressay was designed by Bernard. The house was started in 1974 just before the car ferry started. The house was built on the foundations of a former fishing station. Bernard & June built the house themselves including glazed additions and stone dykes. The roofs are slate and the concrete block walls have been over clad in timber. The house enjoys splendid views of the harbour entrance being directly opposite the Knab in Lerwick. Their windswept gardens may also be of interest to visitors.
Directions: Catch the ferry. Head south beyond the housing schemes towards the lighthouse at Kirkabister. Look out for the Ham sign, turn right and follow your nose down to the seashore. Our house is the last house down this road.
Date (s)/ Hours to be open: Saturday 26 June 11am –4pm. No appointment necessary.
Contact phone number: 01595 820 359 (home), 01595 880885 ( work)
In a secluded spot at Vedrik in Bigton a new house was designed for David & Janette Budge by Architect Ian Irvine and completed in 2008. The house is located on a south facing hill near the site of an old water mill. This was no ordinary site as it was remote from mains services so the development included for power to be provided by both a water and wind turbine. To store water for powering the water turbine an old reservoir was reinstated by David behind an existing dam. The house is a contemporary design incorporating traditional features and materials with accommodation being provided on two levels. To benefit from solar gain, and contribute to the low running costs, a conservatory was provided on the south west corner and this double height space provides a link between the ground floor and first floor living accommodation.
Directions: Turn off the A970 towards Bigton. Drive past both Bigton junctions and continue south along the straight road. Half way along there is a turn off with cattle grid on your right. Follow this 600m track where you’ll find the house.
Date (s)/ Hours to be open: Mon 21st June 1.30pm – 3pm, Mon 21st June 6pm-7.30pm, Tues 22nd June 10.30am-12noon.
Contact phone number: 01950 422 452
Architects Iain & Suzanne Malcolmson of Redman and Sutherland Architects designed their own house Grunnabreck at South Newing, South Nesting. Completed in 2008 they have tried to create a modern home which sits well in the landscape and has the feel of a traditional croft house. The plan is based on the dimensions and layout of a Viking longhouse with an open plan living, kitchen and dining space with a central fire. The house utilises super insulated construction, the latest heat pump technology and low energy appliances to create an extremely energy efficient building. South facing glazing into the living spaces with a high thermal mass floor takes advantage of solar gains and the spectacular views over the Bay of Skellister.
Directions: Take the Nesting turn off on the A970 and follow the single track road into Nesting. After about a mile and a half you will come across Robertson and Reed, shop. Continue on this road (which is sign posted to Billister and North Nesting) for about a mile and a half. Ahead you will see the Bay of Skellister. Carry on around the corner ( do not take the road to the school) and you will see a collection of 4 houses and a ruined croft house. Grunnabreck is accessed of a track next to the croft house and is the first house on the track with the red door.
Date (s)/ Hours to be open: Sunday 27 June 11am –4pm
Contact phone number: 01595 890372 (home), 01595 880885( work)
Mairi MacDonald & John Cameron commissioned PJP Architects to design their new home at 9 Quoys Road, Upper Sound, Lerwick. Architect Peter Johnson’s design had to fit a site that had been partially excavated to form terraces in the rock and formed part of a private housing development in a prominent location with magnificent views overlooking Lerwick and the southern approach to the harbour. The clients’ brief highlighted the importance of natural day lighting throughout, with particular emphasis on the entrance and open plan living/ dining/ kitchen areas. The resultant design provides the required accommodation over two levels, taking account of the site profile while also taking advantage of available views and sunlight. The open stair linking the entrance at lower level with the open plan living arrangement above is flooded with natural light thus creating a feeling of spaciousness at the heart of a relatively compact house.
Directions: Take the Ackrigarth turning of the main road heading South out of Lerwick. Carry on over the roundabout towards the new Hjaltland Housing Association houses. Carry on around the next roundabout and up the hill. No.9 is on the right hand side near the top of the hill just past the bend in the road.
Date (s)/ Hours to be open: Sunday 20th June, 12 noon – 4:00pm.
Contact phone number: 01595 692588
Foraness at Inner Sand, Sand, Bixter was designed for Dr & Mrs MacFarlane by Redman and Sutherland Architects and was recently completed in August 2009. The house is designed situated on a gently sloping site, the design and orientation of this one and half storey house maximises the 360◦ spectacular views. Entrance to the main house is via the glazed central core with feature staircase and opens into the double height glazed dining room overlooking Sand Haa to the South West. The use of traditional materials and finishes are reminiscent of the Shetland croft-house but have been combined to create a modern and elegant home.
Directions: Take the A970 North of Lerwick and turn West onto the A971 passed Tingwall Airport. Continue on this road through Whiteness, Weisdale and Bixter. Approximately 2km North of Bixter turn Left at Parkhall onto the B9701 towards Skeld. Carry on this road for 4km. Pass the Loch of Semblister on your Left Hand Side and turn left at junction towards to Sand. Continue along this road to the end crossing the cattle grid at Inner Sand. Foraness and the MacFarlane House is straight ahead of you
Date (s)/ Hours to be open : 30min appointments from 11.00am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.
Contact phone number: 01595 880885( Redman and Sutherland Architects)
Ian Irvine of PJP Architects designed an extension to his family home Sjoglimt in Papil, Burra. The form of the extension was designed to minimise its impact on the original house and to tie into the different heights of both the original house and an existing extension. This is achieved by sloping the roof of the proposed extension from the higher existing extension onto the roof of the original house. To further minimise its impact both elevations of the extension are set back from the existing gables. Internal alterations were carried out to ensure the new layout complimented the existing accommodation. The new Living Room enjoys the spectacular view to East Burra and the Clift Hills beyond. Both the extensions are clad in painted timber to distinguish it from the original house which was built around 1900.
Directions: Head south through Burra and turn right at the war memorial at Bridge End. Continue south into Papil and stop at the kirkyard carpark. Return to the main road and walk south 100yards and turn left at timber clad caravan and continue to end of track.
Date (s)/ Hours to be open: Wednesday 16th June & Wednesday 23 June, 6:00 – 7:30pm
Contact phone number: 01595 859403
Across the water from Papil is Skeogarth one of two houses designed by Mike Finnie which together with their garages and outbuildings form a small group of buildings on a south west facing coastal site in East Burra. Completed in 1999, Skeogarth is a small house with a largely open plan layout. It has large areas of glass and timber walls facing south west and a blockwork wall with few small windows to the north east. The house benefits from solar gain and runs without the need for heating from spring to autumn. Construction is timber and rendered blockwork with aluminium roof sheeting. Interior finishes are plasterboard and exposed OSB (oriented strand board). The buildings forming the cluster are all simple gabled forms which reflect local building traditions, and form a low lying group sitting into the Shetland landscape. The houses gained an award for new Housing in the Countryside from the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland in 2000.
Directions: At the war memorial at Bridge End turn left, continue over the bridge and south towards Houss. Near the end of the Houss road turn right (signposted Meadows Road) and continue to the turning head.
Skeogarth is the dark blue house at the end of the road.
Date (s)/ Hours to be open : Wednesday 16th June & Wednesday 23 June, 7.30 – 9pm
Contact phone number: 01595 859 445
Back to Lerwick the final house on view is Ballaskerry, Upper Quoys, Upper Sound, the new home of Peter and Grace Malcolmson. Recently completed in January 2010 Ballaskerry is designed by Redman and Sutherland Architects. Built on a rocky bluff takes advantage of the spectacular views from Whalsay in the North, Lerwick and Sound and as far south as Mousa. The living accommodation is expressed in a simple modern interpretation of a traditional Shetland white harled longhouse but with a glazed living area overlooking Sound Voe. The ancillary accommodation is also expressed this time as a Scandinavian painted timber clad outbuilding. The two are adjoined by a flat grass roof which contains the entrance to the house and a glazed sitting area with views south along Trebister Ness.
Directions: Take the Ackrigarth turning of the main road heading South out of Lerwick. Carry on over the roundabout towards the new Hjaltland Housing Association houses. Carry on around the next roundabout and up the hill turning left halfway up onto Sundhamar. Ballaskerry is right at the end of the Sundhamar road down the track.
Date (s)/ Hours : Saturday 19 June 11am –4pm, Sunday 20 June 11am-4pm.
Contact phone number: 01595 693247 (home), 01595 880885( Redman and Sutherland Architects)
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