18th century ruins have been transformed into a futuristic house: Ruins Studio
This mansion in Scotland was built on the stone ruins of an old farmhouse. Its windows on the north side offer a beautiful view of two valleys. Located in a remote rural area, this project was created with an ultra-insulated shell and uses solar energy.
The existing ruins, originally built in the 18th century, have been remodeled several times over time. To emphasize this historical layering, the construction of the house used contrasting modern materials and distinct geometry, with new layers of walls added alongside the original stone.
The crumbling walls have been preserved and the pitched roof that was originally on the house has been recreated to ensure the integrity of the building's exterior. At the same time, the matte rubber coating on the exterior and the soft curves of the interior have become an important element in preserving the original structure.
The first layer is the existing stone wall, with a roof "shell" covered with black waterproofing EPDM rubber, and a curvilinear internal "tube" wall system inside. The curved surface of this interior is made of insulating recycled polystyrene blocks within a latticed timber structure and covered with glass-reinforced plastic.
Emphasizing the history of time, the three layers of the house also reflect different architectural expressions: the random natural erosion of the stone walls, the archetypal minimalist pitched roof and the free-form double curved surface. These three layers are not designed as independent parts, rather, they gain meaning as their relationships develop through the sections of the building. They separate, consolidate and intertwine, creating a series of architectural features, revealing a new reading of the unity of time and space.