Andrew Brown used to pass the dilapidated property, which once occupied this roadside spot in a village near Aberdeen, twice a day when driving to university, but never paid it a moment’s notice. Little did he know that, many years later, he and his wife Kate Brown, co-founders of Brown & Brown Architects, would create something magical here for clients Wendy and Russel Davies.
First, though, was the matter of the existing building, which dated back to the Victorian era, when it was the stable block for a mansion.
The estate had been knocked down some time ago, but this structure remained, unloved and crumbling at the edges. It was far from Wendy and Russel’s dream home, but they saw the value of this plot, with its garden that stretched all the way down to the Deeside Way (a decommissioned railway line that’s now a tree-lined cycle path). The couple were moving from a remote spot on Scotland’s east coast and craved community and amenities, but Andrew was keen that they should not lose their connection with nature.
What's everyone reading?
‘It was all about easing that transition from the rural to the urban,’ explains Andrew, whose design for this home concentrated on creating a quiet atmosphere.
‘We wanted to build a house that turns its back on the public realm a bit,’ he adds. To that end, he orientated the property away from the road and towards the garden, disguising it behind a new stone wall, built using granite from the original stables. The upper level, containing bedrooms and a bathroom, is cantilevered over the wall. ‘We wanted to play with that hard boundary by just peeping over the top of it,’ continues Andrew. Of course, the view isn’t of passing cars, but the rolling hills beyond, with the grass roof of the colonnade directing your gaze.
It’s this colonnade, formed using an original wall of the stables, that Andrew left standing (complete with holes where the windows used to be), that is another key to this home’s de-stressing powers. ‘It’s like a mental airlock,’ says Andrew of the covered courtyard, a space to pause before you get to the front door. ‘I think it’s quite therapeutic. Even though you are not physically that far from the street, it’s about how it makes you feel.’
Step through the front door and the dedication to peacefulness continues. Punctuated by a selection of Scandinavian furniture classics, the open-plan interior is purposefully sparse. ‘Both of us agree on the minimalist approach,’ says Russel. ‘I always used to tell the kids, “Don’t buy me knick-knacks!”’ adds Wendy, laughing.
Freed from clutter, the focus here falls on two key elements: the kitchen, clad in distressed slate, and the custom-made staircase – its corkscrew-like spiral comprises 280 individually glued and nailed pieces of plywood. ‘We watched the woodworkers build it by hand, piece by piece,’ recalls Russel. ‘It’s a sculpture, a work of art.’
For a home that boasts so many expansive views, this is a very private space. The placement of the windows means that, although Wendy and Russel are always looking out, nobody can see in. Keen to get a glimpse of the newest house in the village, locals have been known to pop their heads through the gaps in the colonnade and wave, but the interior itself remains a sanctuary.
‘It’s a peaceful place to be,’ confirms Russel. ‘We moved in at the end of July last year with the builders still in situ, so we didn’t get to fully enjoy the summer here. This year, we will be out on the lawn, planting flowers, appreciating our own environment. It will be the moment to sit back and go “yes”.’ brownandbrown.studio
