Collieston, a small coastal village in north–east Aberdeenshire, was once a thriving fishing village, with a lively history of smuggling and contraband. Its very form derives from the dramatic coastline contours, huddling around a natural bay contained by exposed headlands. Following a competition amongst selected architectural teams to design a 21st century community hall for a site over looking the bay, h+ m were part of the successful team.
The new 2 storey hall adopts a north-south alignment, cutting into the landform to create sheltered entrance and play spaces at the lower level whilst the upper level public spaces open out onto the headland landscape. Around the new hall, a coastal wildflower meadow is created, edged by a low band of Sea Holly which defines the surrounding steep bankings. The meadow provides a large flat space to the east of the building, to accommodate special events. The open, exposed character of the site is retained and celebrated, utilising a simple palette of coastal materials and treatments.