The long House, Isle of Skye

On the Isle of Skye, we designed a pair of low-energy rural homes that demonstrate how Passivhaus principles and thermal excellence can be achieved in a cost-efficient, high-quality dwelling tailored to its island context.

The homes are carefully positioned on site with a sensitivity to both local and wider landscape settings. Massing, materiality, scale, and orientation all draw from traditional rural forms, ensuring that the buildings remain visually subservient to the dramatic peninsula landscape. The single-storey profiles allow the houses to nestle into the land, preserving long views while creating sheltered, comfortable interiors.

Our design approach embraces the challenges of rural self-build and island construction, combining robust detailing with a fabric-first, energy-efficient strategy that reduces operational costs for residents. This project exemplifies how contemporary rural housing can respect landscape character while delivering long-term thermal comfort and affordability.

Through this work we continue to develop our expertise in rural typologies and self-build projects — skills we are now extending to explore the potential for multi-unit, low-energy housing schemes that can address the pressing need for sustainable social housing in rural communities.