Modern buildings can sometimes look out of place in a traditional setting, but this mountain cabin that was recently completed in the Scottish Highlands does not have that problem. It was designed by Moxon Architects and, in an effort to make it blend into its surroundings, the designers opted for a traditional green roof.
The Culardoch Shieling , as the cabin is called, measures 505 sq ft (47 sq m) and features a timber frame with overhanging eaves. The green roof is covered in moss, heather and stone, as is the case with traditional shepherds’ huts in this area, and helps keep the interior well insulated. This cabin is not intended for residing in, since the entire interior is just one room dominated by a dining large table. It is meant as more of a meeting place or a shelter where hikers can rest.
There is no bathroom or kitchen, but since it is located in a remote spot it operates completely off-the-grid, though only in the sense that there is no running water, that candles or sunlight are the only sources of light, and that heating and cooking can be done with the help of a wood stove. The interior is finished in spruce wood, which gives it a nice, warm feel, while the windows were all placed in a way that offers the best views, though it doesn’t seem like they let in a lot of light.
Adding the traditional green roof is a nice touch in this case, and could serve as an inspiration for anyone thinking of building a cabin in an untouched, remote area. Even though we have modern solutions to problems that were solved by such roofs in the past doesn’t mean that traditional techniques have no place in today’s architecture and design.
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