We are pleased to announce that our project for a new house near Arisaig has been granted planning permission. Commanding fantastic views over Loch Nan Ceall, the proposal is for a new build house featuring a Douglas-fir frame and constructed sustainably using breathable wood-fibre insulation. 

HLA had a great time at Carpenter Oak's 'Craft and Design of Timber Framing' talk at their workshop in Angus. This was an opportunity for us to gain a greater understanding of the production and design possibilities of traditional timber framed buildings.

HLA are delighted that two of our projects (Frisealach and Taigh Na Coille) have been included in a new book by Peter Wilson, focussing on contemorary timber construction around the UK.

A 100m2 extension to a Georgian House in Northern Fife starts to take shape on site.

The dual pitch of the roof allows for a sheltered external area, which takes advantage of the southern exposure whilst providing internal shading during the summer months. 

Helen Lucas Architects have received plannning permission for a new low energy house in rural Midlothian. The house will feature an air source heat pump, rainwater harvesting and solar panels. The building will be clad with lime render, larch boarding and standing seam zinc roofing.

A new seaside family house is now complete in Roshven, Invernessshire.

The environmentally friendly house is constructed entirely of wood with Green oak frame creating large double height internal spaces. The timber walls have been super insulated with NBT breathable wood fibre insulation and a taped air tight wall construction. This makes the house very easy to heat. Due to the remote location there is no gas or water supply available. An Air Source Heat pump located under the houseuses electricity to generate energy at a three to one ratio to power the underfloor heating and domestic hot water. A bore hole drilled to a depth of fifty metres provides clean water from the rocks which is UV treated to provide the drinking water.

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The extension to a small listed home in Edinburgh is moving at a fast pace After a little over a month on site the form of this contemporary extension is plainly visible. This is a major advantage of using timber frame construction.

A new build timber frame home in Roshven takes shape. The timber cladding has been added to a new build holiday home on the West Coast of Scotland.

The site overlooks a shingle beach with the building sited just above the high tide line. The siberian larch and iroko cladding will turn naturally to a silver grey harmonising with surroundings.

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Cladding is added to Timber Frame extension. The project is really starting to take shape as the timber cladding starts to be applied to a contemporary timber frame extension to a listed building in East Lothian.

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Timber frame extension starts on site at Dick Place, Edinburgh. Progress has been fast in the first few weeks on site with this timber frame extension which will double the footprint of the original gatehouse.

Designed to be as passively energy efficient as possible, this project is an exciting one to watch.