Building: Auchnaguie, by Dunkeld, Perthshire

Architect: Simpson & Brown Architects

Stone type: Local field stone quarried from decayed enclosure walls

Construction type: Timber frame cavity wall – dry stone back-bedded to blockwork basewall, behind which is an insulated timber frame

The dry stone wall has a pedigree in the domestic architecture of Scotland dating back to the Neolithic structures of Skara Brae and Maes Howe on Orkney, its durability in extreme weather conditions proven over time and its high sustainability quotient still unmatched by other methods of construction. Increased awareness of environmental issues has reinvigorated interest in the use of dry stone and, coupled with the efficiency of modern timber frame systems, presents an opportunity to create new buildings suited to the rural landscape.

Aside from the lower fuel levels required to transport locally sourced material, there are many practical benefits to be had from using dry stone for new buildings – aesthetics, durability, low maintenance costs, re-use of existing materials, and retention of valuable craft skills. Dry stone is not the quickest form of construction, but it can be carried out in all but the worst of Winter weather. The method is not necessarily suited to large-scale housing developments, but its potential for rural housing is considerable, especially in areas where local dry stone walls have fallen out of use and – along with redundant buildings – can be a ready source of material.

At Auchnaguie, a traditional farmstead and steading range have been converted to new use as housing. As fine examples of the local vernacular, care was taken to retain original features, with two new timber frame houses built alongside to complement the grouping. The new dry stone walls function as rainscreens and are back-bedded to the timber frame construction. www.dswa.org.uk