Scottish farmhouse designed to stand the test of time
Minimalist Scottish farmhouse by Glasgow-based Baillie Baillie Architects draws on the area’s typical agricultural settlements

Alexander James-Aylin - Photography
The Kepdarroch Farmhouse is that rarest of contemporary buildings, a new-build house on a working farm. Glasgow-based Baillie Baillie Architects designed the minimalist house for a young family on a plot surrounded by open fields. Colin and Megan Baillie’s studio took inspiration from typical agricultural settlements, groupings of functional buildings that evolve over time. Arranged around an informal courtyard, the exterior of this Scottish farmhouse uses materials that weather naturally, such as stone, wood, and slate, while the sleek interiors feature white walls and polished concrete floors. Internal volumes are pushed to the edges of the house's building envelope, with a generous pitched roof to the main living area.
Minimalist Scottish farmhouse built for longevity
The house was designed to grow and evolve over time with the clients’ young family. ‘They wanted a house that would be a joy to spend time in and could accommodate the changing needs of a growing family,’ says Colin Baillie.
The site, on the family farm, provided an opportunity to do things differently from a run-of-the-mill new-build home, starting with the materials. Caithness stone, charred timber, and reclaimed slate are the primary exterior materials, inspired by traditional drystone walls on the farm, and designed to slowly become part of the surrounding landscape.
The silhouette, formed from three distinctive but differently sized pitched roof volumes, is enhanced by prominent chimneys and broken up by the rhythm of the large areas of glass and the dark charred wood.
The courtyard arrangement provides shelter from the weather, while the components are arranged to make the most of the views and the changing light; south- and west-facing living spaces soak up the sunshine, while the concrete floor slabs are also heated by a ground source heat pump.
From a distance, this Scottish farmhouse has no jarring sense of newness. This sense of ‘familiarity and timelessness’ is all part of the architects’ emphasis on sustainability; the house is intended to last for at least a century, thanks to robust construction, flexible layouts, and careful detailing. Luxurious touches like the freestanding bathtub and sparse but rich material detailing all contribute to a feeling of endurance and solidity.
‘We see longevity as one important tenet of environmentally responsible architecture,’ says Baillie.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
INFORMATION
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Highlights from the transporting Cruise 2026 shows
The Cruise 2026 season began yesterday with a Chanel show at Lake Como, heralding the start of a series of jet-setting, destination runway shows from fashion’s biggest houses
-
Behind the design of national pavilions in Venice: three studios to know
Designing the British, Swiss and Mexican national pavilions at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 are three outstanding studios to know before you go
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spot
Heritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
A new London house delights in robust brutalist detailing and diffused light
London's House in a Walled Garden by Henley Halebrown was designed to dovetail in its historic context
-
A Sussex beach house boldly reimagines its seaside typology
A bold and uncompromising Sussex beach house reconfigures the vernacular to maximise coastal views but maintain privacy
-
This 19th-century Hampstead house has a raw concrete staircase at its heart
This Hampstead house, designed by Pinzauer and titled Maresfield Gardens, is a London home blending new design and traditional details
-
An octogenarian’s north London home is bold with utilitarian authenticity
Woodbury residence is a north London home by Of Architecture, inspired by 20th-century design and rooted in functionality
-
What is DeafSpace and how can it enhance architecture for everyone?
DeafSpace learnings can help create profoundly sense-centric architecture; why shouldn't groundbreaking designs also be inclusive?
-
The dream of the flat-pack home continues with this elegant modular cabin design from Koto
The Niwa modular cabin series by UK-based Koto architects offers a range of elegant retreats, designed for easy installation and a variety of uses
-
Are Derwent London's new lounges the future of workspace?
Property developer Derwent London’s new lounges – created for tenants of its offices – work harder to promote community and connection for their users
-
Showing off its gargoyles and curves, The Gradel Quadrangles opens in Oxford
The Gradel Quadrangles, designed by David Kohn Architects, brings a touch of playfulness to Oxford through a modern interpretation of historical architecture