A timber clad family home, tucked away by a lake on the West Highlands of Scotland has won RIBA House of the Year. Designed by Cambridge-based Haysom Ward Miller Architects, the house was praised by the judges as ‘an exemplar of its genre', due to the ‘care in the design and in the building of this house'.
The near-200 sq m structure follows local vernacular, using timber and pitched roofs (yet without trying to copy existing buildings, hasten to add the architects), cutting a discreet figure against the rich and natural Scottish landscape. Set by the water, the building feels modern yet also ‘of its place', seamlessly integrating with its setting and using the context to inform both material and volumetric choices.
The house is created to be completely off-grid, yet has all the comforts of a modern home.
On top of its highly contextual approach, the house was designed to be completely off-grid and environmentally friendly. Most of the construction used prefabricated elements, so as to minimise the impact of a building site on the surrounding land. At the same time, the house is serviced by its own water supply, electrical system and sewage treatment.
The project's three main minimalist volumes are wrapped in highly insulated SIP panels, while the Scottish larch cladding was charred using ‘a variation of the traditional Japanese shou-sugi-ban technique to achieve both naturally varied colouring and improved durability', explain the architects; which is, in fact, a fitting example of how the house's modern design combines both a contemporary aesthetic and key sustainability values that helped to ensure its place on the RIBA shortlist.
The structure, designed for private clients, is clad in timber.
The building’s integration with the landscape and stunning views impressed the judges.
The house was designed with sustainable principles in mind.
Most of the construction used prefabricated elements, minimising the impact of a building site on the surrounding land.
Lochside House has the rich and natural Scottish landscape as its backdrop
The three volumes are wrapped in highly insulated SIP panels, while the Scottish larch cladding was charred, drawing on traditional Japanese techniques.
INFORMATION
For more information visit the website of Haysom Ward Miller Architects
-
A new Athens gallery is a celebration of old and new, a stone's throw from the AcropolisNew Athens gallery Melas Martinos by Local Local is a contemporary art space, a stone's throw from the Acropolis, in the Greek capital's Monastiraki neighbourhood
-
Haute Couture Week A/W 2025: live updates from the Wallpaper* teamFrom 7-9 July, Haute Couture Week A/W 2025 arrives in Paris. Follow along for a first look at the shows, presentations and other fashion happenings, as seen by the Wallpaper* editors
-
Boundaries between art and life dissolve in Katherine Hubbard's intimate documentation of her mother's illnessIn 'The Great Room', Katherine Hubbard merges caregiving for her mother with an unflinching documentary of the process
-
The inimitable Norman Foster: our guide to the visionary architect, shaping the futureNorman Foster has shaped today's London and global architecture like no other in his field; explore his work through our ultimate guide to this most impactful contemporary architect
-
Kengo Kuma’s ‘Paper Clouds’ in London is a ‘poem’ celebrating washi paper in construction‘Paper Clouds’, an installation by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, is a poetic design that furthers research into the use of washi paper in construction
-
Foster + Partners to design the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth IIFor the Queen Elizabeth II memorial, Foster + Partners designs proposal includes a new bridge, gates, gardens and figurative sculptures in St James’ Park
-
Wolves Lane Centre brings greenery, growing and grass roots togetherWolves Lane Centre, a new, green community hub in north London by Material Cultures and Studio Gil, brings to the fore natural materials and a spirit of togetherness
-
The 2025 Obel Award is scooped not by an architect or building, but by a movementHouseEurope! has won the 2025 Obel Award; the non-profit organisation has been advocating for ecological and social transformation in the built environment
-
This ingenious London office expansion was built in an on-site workshopNew Wave London and Thomas-McBrien Architects make a splash with this glulam extension built in the very studio it sought to transform. Here's how they did it
-
Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on lifeThanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being reborn as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
-
Lego and Serpentine celebrate World Play Day with a new pavilionLego and Serpentine have just unveiled their Play Pavilion; a colourful new structure in Kensington Gardens in London and a gesture that celebrates World Play Day (11 June)
