PROJECT: Historic Aitken House – UK – Vulcan Cladding

Published On: March 7, 2024
Historic Aitken House Vulcan Cladding 1
Project Details

Architect
Jefcoate Anderson
Product
Vulcan Cladding WB10 Profile 20×180 coated in Nero
Vulcan Cladding WB12 mixed profiles coated in Nero
Vulcan Cladding WB12 20×180 coated in Teak
Timber Distributor
Glenalmond Timber
Photography Credit
Mike Krause
Completion Date
2022
Location
West Linton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Awards
Finalist – 2022 Wood Protection Association Awards – Modified Wood Project of the Year Category

[fusion_dropcap boxed="yes" boxed_radius="0" color="var(--awb-color4)" class="fusion-content-tb-dropcap"]S[/fusion_dropcap]ensitivity is paramount when creating a new structure in an area of ancient historic significance, like this village in the Southern Borders of Scotland. An external material palette of stone and Abodo Vulcan timber weatherboards were carefully chosen to help this new building merge with its neighbours.

Built for a client in their later years, who wished to downsize and live closer to the amenities of the village, this home was positioned on the site of a series of brick sheds in the backyard of an existing building near the village centre.

Surrounded by historic brick buildings with slate roofs, the home was designed by Jefcoate Anderson Architects to assimilate with these neighbouring buildings through both form and materiality.

A stone plinth base gives the impression that the building has been constructed on the foundations of an older building, providing a sense of permanence for the new house. Its roof pitch mimics the surrounding properties, with dormer windows and skylights to give the upper storey usability without breaking height limits.

Sections of the upper level also cantilever over the ground floor, providing additional floorspace upstairs. An inset balcony reduces the visual mass of the building when seen from the nearby public green space, while also providing an attractive view of the park.

When it came to material choices, the house closely follows that of its neighbours, with a lower level formed out of local stone and a darkly textured slate roof. Abodo Vulcan Cladding, laid both horizontally with WB10 180×20 weatherboards, and vertically with WB12 mixed profiles, breaks up the volume of the upper storey, while also softening the aesthetics of the building.

Finished in Protector – Ebony, Abodo Vulcan is also used for louvred shading on the upper storey, which hides the contemporary nature of the double height windows in the living area, and for the entry gate.

The balcony is clad with vertical Vulcan weatherboards finished in Protector – Teak, with the soffit lined in 180×20 WB12 boards, creating a sense of warmth in this inset space.

While the building appears at home in the village, it also has features that are suited to modern expectations, such as a high degree of insulation to keep heating costs down, large windows and an open-plan layout for the living space.

With its prominent position beside a church and adjacent to the Lower Green, the plans for the building initially received a large number of objections but, since being built, the sensitive nature of the design has caused many locals to accept and even welcome the addition of this modern home, in part due to the careful choice of materials.

Vulcan Cladding

Super stable, virtually knot free and durability class 1

Vulcan Panelling

Internal lining - bring the warmth of timber inside

Feature Trusses

Bespoke made feature trusses with metal work

Historic Aitken House Vulcan Cladding 1