The proposed house location occupies an open aspect site on the northern side of East Fordoun Farm, set within an expansive agricultural landscape and providing extensive views across open countryside to the south and west.
In response to the sensitive landscape setting, a design strategy was developed which nestled the house below an adjacent ridgeline, so minimising its visibility from the surrounding landscape. The various components of the house were arranged in a clustered layout reflecting a contemporary interpretation of a traditional farmhouse steading, focussing around an entrance courtyard where the initial impression is of a collection of single storey cottages. To the south and west though, the house increases to 2 storeys, following the slope of the site and opening up long distance views to the surrounding landscape whilst optimising the benefits of solar gain through large areas of glazing.
The landscape approach manages the changes in level across the site so that the house and its surroundings merge seamlessly with the surrounding landform. A sequence of stepped planted terraces allow the house levels to transition into the adjacent field levels. Excavated material is used positively on site to increase the height of the ridgeline to the north and increase the extent of screening of the house from nearby roads. Regraded land is returned to agricultural use, minimising the loss of agricultural land and helping to integrate the house into its surroundings.
The project has recently been granted planning permission with no associated planning conditions to satisfy, indicating how the high quality design has responded to both the character of the site and its setting as well as to national and local planning policy requirements.