Chalet House Plan

Scandinavian by design

STANDING in landscaped gardens with only the sounds of birdsong and bees to be heard, the house known as The Carn, in the hamlet of Flichity, near Farr, enjoys an idyllic rural setting.

Just 13 miles south of Inverness, the splendid grounds feature more than 100 trees in dozens of varieties, colourful plants, shrubs and a wildlife pond.

Yet 16 years ago, when Dr Gordon Stone and his wife, Aileen, who both hail from Aberdeen, first came here, this was a sloping sheep field, home to a single solitary tree.

“Initially, Aileen and I moved from Aberdeen to Culloden with our children Joanna and Ewan, but once they’d left home – and we were no longer required to provide a free taxi service for them in and out of Inverness – we set to find a place where we could build a Scandinavian-style home,” said Gordon, a former consultant with the Highland Health Board.

“We found this plot and thought the far-reaching views from it were fantastic, but we weren’t too keen on the proposed house drawings.

“The planner insisted it look like a standard one-and-a-half-storey cottage, while we were keen to have a house with lots of light, an open-plan design and double-height space.”

The couple went to a great deal of trouble to come up with the ideal design, pouring over design catalogues and visiting a housing expo in Milton Keynes for inspiration.

By then Joanna was studying architecture at the Scott Sutherland School in Aberdeen, and The Carn became her first commission.

“Between the three of us, we created a house that suited us and pleased the planners,” said Gordon.

“It had interesting architectural and engineering challenges but it was great fun to do it with our daughter and see our vision becoming a reality.

Joanna, now Joanna Lockhart, became the first female recipient of the Aberdeen Society of Architects Medal, and now runs her own successful practice in Kirkcaldy. She says the experience she gained during the design of The Carn helped her get a step ahead once she had graduated.

Roy Construction built the house, which had features regarded as innovative at the time such as thick, well-insulated walls and extensive use of glass.

“Even the front door is cleverly designed as it opens outwards, which means that when the wind blows it pushes the door closed, thereby keeping any draughts out,” said Gordon.

Contemporary Chalet House Plans – Canadian Winter Wonderland ...

This contemporary chalet house plan in Clearview, Ontario is a lesson in opposites attracting. Designed by Canadian architects Atelier Kastelic Buffey (AKB), this winter wonderland home features a dark, dramatic facade in contrast to the bright-white snow surrounding, and the modern minimalist living within. And what would a Canada cottage be without a fireplace feature? In this case, a wood-burning stove takes center stage as the home’s instant and eternal social hub. The interior design really plays up the home’s architectural features, showcasing their beauty among simple and few adornments and accessories. Minimalist both in its style and in its maintenance, this chalet makes for a great escape.

Home Design Standards Home Building Standards 1Q09

A book of house plans, floor plans and cost data of original designs of various architectural types, of which full working drawings and specifications are available

The Swiss chalet book, a minute analysis and reproduction of the chalets of Switzwerland, obtained by a special visit to that country, its architects, and its chalet homes

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