Located at the edge of a lake in the West Highlands of Scotland, Lochside House by British firm Haysom Ward Miller has been named the 2018 RIBA House of the Year. Scale, material choices, use of setting, and integration into the landscape were all factors taken into consideration for the honor, which RIBA awards annually.

Designed for a ceramic artist, the Lochside House is a modest and highly energy-efficient modular home composed of three volumes. Clad in Scottish larch that has been charred using the Japanese shou sugi ban technique, and surrounded by a traditional drystone wall, the off-grid abode uses highly insulated SIPs, which were prefabricated to minimize transport of materials and leave the surroundings as undisturbed as possible.

Great respect was paid to having minimal impact on the surrounding and re-establishing the native flora and fauna. Additionally, the home uses solar energy and will have its own water supply, sewage treatment, and electrical system. There is also a portion of the structure with a flat living roof.

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Haysom Ward Miller Architects / @haysomwardmiller
General Contractor: Spey Building and Joinery
QS Consultant: Torrance Partnership
Structural Engineers: Peter Brett Associates
Energy Consultant: EcoFirst Consult