Perched on the south bank of the River Tay, this contemporary villa provides a new family home for a growing family and commands dramatic views across the Tay Estuary, Invergowrie Bay and onwards over the Sidlaw Hills. The warm yet minimal design bookends a traditional Victorian street lined with semi-detached sandstone villas.
The concept design focused on two significant principles. The design should capture the setting summer sun and provide contrasting open views from all spaces of the river Tay estuary to the north west and mature woodland garden to the south.
Aim’s principal design philosophy was to encourage a seamless interaction of internal and external spaces at every opportunity. To enable spaces to physically spill out into the garden and river, as well as garden spaces to become part of living areas.
The open plan nature of the living levels has been created to meet the needs of a family with teenage demands and a village social life. Kitchen, living, dining and snug spaces overlap and remain independent via half and full height dividing walls. A working studio is situated on the top floor capturing ever-changing views over the Invergowrie Bay and the bedroom, guest attic and entertainment spaces on the upper levels have increased privacy.
This modern residence situated at West Meadows outside the Perthshire village of Longforgan has been designed to afford its owners optimum views of the picturesque landscape in which it is situated. With a mature forest backdrop and extensive views of the Tay valley, glass topped walkway connects the two upper wings of the house and spills light into the centre of the house via a large roof lantern. Its form, which echoes the simple shapes of the Scottish vernacular, creates a minimalist aesthetic that is punctuated by large areas of glazing.
Throughout the house, sightlines are developed that offer glimpses across the spaces and into the garden beyond. The ground floor living spaces – kitchen dining and lounge – revolve around a dark brick fireplace that acts as the centrepiece when entering the house. A palette of white render and glass combined with warm natural hardwoods and ceramic creates a contemporary yet homely interior.
“The simplicity of the design has created an open, modern, and warm house with commanding views of the Tay Valley - a simply lovely house to live in” - Shirley and Dave Wallace
Dating back to the mid 1800s, and with strong ties to Dundee’s mercantile history, Chesterhill House strikes a formidable figure on its cliff-side site. However, following years of neglect and dereliction, the once proud manor home has fallen into disrepair. It was from here that it was purchased by our client with the ambition of restoring and extending the house to create a high-quality family home.
The largest part of the proposal involves the renovation and restoration of the existing 1870’s dwelling house, including the removal of later extensions of negative significance, and the construction of a new extension, drawing on design cues from the existing structures and using a complimentary and contemporary palette of materials. Other proposed works include the construction of a large subterranean garage, gatehouse, and restoration of the historic oval walled garden.
A simple palette of fluted oak and limestone ceramic complete the interior of the pool house. Walnut timber, coffee and sandstone finishes are used throughout the interior. The feature fireplace is formed from chalk brick and slate creating the centre piece between the living and dining spaces.
Aim completed the refurbishment of a shower room and creation of a bathroom within a private clients’ conservation area home. Combining our clients’ specific palette of materials with the requirement to work within some very small spaces led to some interesting functional approaches. The simple, minimal brief has delivered bright spaces that pack in all the function required wrapped in a glass and LED surround.
"It was amazing how they fitted everything we needed into two small spaces; the colours and simplicity of the design that Aim delivered are perfect" - Mark Wilson
Aim were invited to renovate this Edinburgh basement flat that suffered from being dark and lacking space. Following the successful organisation of a redundant cellar space, designs were produced to open up the existing flat into the garden.
A new bedroom and open plan kitchen/living area was introduced. Solid walls were reduced to permit maximum sunlight to penetrate the deep plan. The new bathroom suite and central hall use natural and artificial light through large frosted glass panels to illuminate the plan.
Wardrobes project through glass into corridor space where space is limited in bedrooms and a new opening through the ‘B’listed façade provides access to the garden.
Haddington Place has received several awards and was featured at the Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition.
“It does not feel like a basement anymore and is more a garden flat. Aim worked with our tight budget and maximised much more space than we thought possible! ” - Kevin & Fran Houston
Airlie Church is a category ‘B’ listed building in Kirkton of Airlie, Angus. The church dates to 1783 although some earlier buildings are associated with the site as long ago as 1242. Renovations were carried out in the late 19th century including pitch pine panelling and the church pews.
These proposals redesign the interior of the building to form a 2 bedroom house. The impressive scale of the main space is retained to take advantage of the incredible natural light. This area forms the heart of the building with living room and kitchen. Bedrooms are situated on the upper floors, each accessed by an individual stair at the west and east wings.
It was essential to work with the building interior and retain the quality of the hall space with any interventions designed as minimal and complimentary to the original building interior.
Located close to Carnoustie Golf Links and Bay, the site for this extension was occupied by a single-storey 1970’s residential building, with restricted views to the golf courses. The building brief was to redevelop the building by raising the roof and designing a modern golf fan destination with open plan appeal and a commanding viewpoint of the Carnoustie Championship Golf Courses 18th green.
The developed solution includes the addition of a first floor to provide extra accommodation, the reconfiguration of the existing layout to modernise the property, and the overhaul of the existing external skin to modernise the external appearance. A new golfers’ terrace provides a rare elevated viewpoint towards the 18th green.
The overall effect is one of restrained modernity that manages to make a sensitive contribution to surrounding urban fabric whilst significantly increasing the value and marketing potential of the property for our client.
