Corrour Hill Climber’s Retreat

In the second year of the undergraduate course at the Mac, we were asked to develop a proposal for a hill walker’s retreat within a specific area on the south west banks of Loch Ossian, roughly a mile from Corrour railway station in the highlands of Scotland. The building was required to accommodate four people, with spaces for living, cooking, washing and sleeping, as well as a space for wet storage of clothes and other items due to the nature of the climate and land. For those who have seen Train Spotting (1996, Danny Boyle), you may remember the scene in the Scottish highlands with four of the main characters.

It became apparent after visiting and choosing a specific site on which to generate a proposal that it needed to be sympathetic with the surrounding sensitive environment; as self-sufficient and economical as possible so as not to infringe on the existing landscape and wildlife. I was luck enough to find a secluded and naturally sheltered spot between two grassy hills, addressing an area of water. This reduced the visual impact of the shelter considerably, with the added benefit of the connection with water and a nearby established foot worn track.

A proposal was drawn up that could provide as much comfort for visiting walkers as necessary, taking advantage of the scenery and atmosphere of the location, whilst providing heat and shelter with only moderate consumption and impact, with little physical connection to the landscape. The resulting proposal was the result of attention to aesthetic and sustainable aspects which, although not essential to the brief, hopefully express some responsibility and integrity in respect to the site.