GRAS were approached by a private client to prepare a full planning application for the conversion of two redundant barns located on Gwendreath Farm in Cornwall, on the Lizard Peninsula into one residential unit. Located in a rural, wooded farm setting, the barns are surrounded by dense shrub and mature trees to the south, west and east, with a mature woodland to the north. The woodland continues into a wooded valley down to Kennack Sands.

The two buildings are distinct in their design with a single-storey L-shaped barn to the north of the site and a two storey smaller barn to the south of the site. The South Barn is built exclusively from natural stone whereas the North Barn is a combination of stone and concrete block work. The driving design intent is the sympathetic renovation of the existing setting, whilst providing the necessary improvements to the building to provide a contemporary home that meets our client’s requirements. The sensitive approach to repairing and retaining stonework is paired with the focus of new materials that are natural or agricultural in aesthetic to preserve the visual character of the barns whilst sensitively sitting within its rural setting.

Located just south of the iconic Kyle of Tongue on Scotland’s north coast, Kinloch Lodge is a Victorian sporting  lodge reimagined for the 21st century. What was a rather spartan and tired holiday home has been transformed into a luxurious oasis over several phases of work in conjunction with Wildland’s creative director, Ruth Kramer. The main house has been carefully repaired and upgraded inside using warm tones and natural materials, enhanced by the addition of a new conservatory to link the house and beautifully replanted gardens in all seasons. The kitchens have also received a full rethink, creating practical but beautiful workspaces befitting the carefully selected Scottish ingredients used to prepared the curated guest meals.

Outside, landscaping by Richard Preston Garden Design softly connects the main house with the collection of corrugated-iron clad outbuildings; each of which has been repaired and then reconfigured internally. While the smaller buildings contain necessary back-of-house facilities, including all new heating and power equipment, the larger Annex provides indoor space to play with room for film nights, yoga, as well as spa treatments.

This modest development provides compact living space for two people in the grounds of a rural cottage in East Lothian. Springing from an existing single-pitched rubble-stone and clay tile outhouse, three new intersecting volumes built from reclaimed materials step, twist, and shift in response to the topography, daylight, and views. The result is a form both of its place and out of time. The proportion and arrangement of interior spaces allow just enough space for comfortable living and working, always in direct visual connection with the surrounding rural landscape of cliff, river, forest, and field. The simple material palette of these interiors consists of concrete, oak, lime plaster, black steel, soft leather, and glass.

The existing 2 bedroom dwelling in King Edward’s Road, London was extended to provide a larger living space with an additional master bedroom. The design transformed the previously dark segmented property into a light, spacious family home. The material palette consists of subtly textured plaster, white oiled Douglas fir, pale brick, accent features in warm dark wood, chrome and black matt metal. Photography by Sustainable Kitchens.

The Log Store and Cart Shed project are two buildings for a highly regarded interior designer client based in Yorkshire. The Log Store contains storage at ground floor and a large home office at the upper level, which the client will use as his base when in Yorkshire. The Cart shed includes covered parking and storage at ground floor with flexible use space and guest accommodation at first floor.

GRAS worked closely with the client to develop a refined design that takes reference from the Yorkshire Sided timber barns and stone Field Barns which characterise this part of the Yorkshire Dales. The project forms part of a larger master plan for the estate which will see the building of a new farm house and steading alongside the conversion of an agricultural shed in to art gallery and workshop spaces.

The proposed family dwelling is located in Uig, a small village at Timsgarry on the Isle of Lewis. The house sits on an exposed site with immersive coastal views towards the southwest. The massing of the development is divided into three volumes containing the house, annex accommodation and garage which helps to break up the overall scale. The staggered arrangement of these elements references the asymmetric plans that are typical in the area, while the inclusion of prominent chimney stacks also evokes the local vernacular.

The building’s orientation on the site takes into consideration the views, sun path and prevailing winds. The main spaces are oriented to take the full advantage of the main southwest panoramic view and to allow morning and evening sunlight to enter. The main entrances to the house and annex on the north facades are protected from the southeast prevailing winds.

The material palette for the property responds directly to the built heritage of the immediate surroundings, whilst also aiming to provide a modern take on the farmhouse dwelling. The proposed cladding is a mixture of textured, painted wet-dash render on the lower part of the facades, with lighter timber above. The materials are distributed across the development to create a sense of scale more characteristic of the area. The pitched roofs of all three volumes are covered with corrugated metal sheets reminiscent of typical agricultural buildings.

The Lake House is a project for a family home on the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. The client approached GRAS to create a house which could simultaneously cater for the parent couple but also their children and grandchildren.

Using the challenge of a House which could expand and contract for two people and a house for 50 people; GRAS consider the project as a typological study on the evolution of the home in North America and in particular the suburban home. The re-interpretation of domestic and vernacular architectural influences occurs from the beginning of the Western inhabitation of America to the current day and it is the cross-pollination of influence which gives character to the Lake House project. The project aims to create an American sub-urban home but with a European and Scottish influence.

GRAS were appointed to refurbish and convert two flats back into a full townhouse together with a new rear extension to house a swimming pool and spa facilities. The townhouse was converted into two flats in the 1960’s so a significant move was reinstating the first flight of the central stair in stone. Other works were installing en-suites to all of the bedrooms with new hardwood parquet flooring throughout. 

Situated in the village of Tongue, Sutherland, in the shadow of the iconic Ben Hope, Lundies looks over its stone walls and gardens towards the ancient ruins of Caisteal Bharraich and the dramatic Kyle of Tongue. The former 19th-century manse has been meticulously repaired and sensitively adapted to create accommodation in the form of three period-inspired guest suites and an attic-level apartment. The creative team at conservation and hospitality organisation Wildland were deeply involved in all aspects of the project, from defining a clear, ambitious vision to sourcing and commissioning unique pieces of furniture and artworks at completion.

Traquair House is a large fortified country house dating from the 15th century and thought to be the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland. The core comprises a 3-storey tower house built circa 1492, this having been enlarged and extended throughout the 16th and 17th centuries to give the house its distinctive and architecturally complex form. GRAS have a long period of involvement with the estate extending over many years and have been responsible for successive schemes of alteration and repair to the house and other buildings.

Our most recent commission involved investigating and reporting on the condition of the external harling and stone masonry to the external walls and other features of the house, setting out recommendations for repair.  A suitable contractor was then appointed and an extensive programme of repair works were agreed and implemented.  

GRAS have recently completed a contemporary extension and refurbishment of a family home in Corstorphine. The ground floor is significantly reconfigured and extended to provide a large kitchen, family room, and dining room with large slim profile sliding doors on to the garden. A first floor extension provides an additional bedroom and is conceived as an elemental sculptural form clad it tiles to match the existing roof.

BE Residence is a proposed new home for a growing family in Northern Ireland. It was conceived as a modern farmhouse drawing on the vernacular form and groupings of existing properties throughout the region.

The gentle slope of the site allows the building to hunker down into the landscape so it appears unimposing on approach from the north. The south, east and west elevations, however, open up to frame long views and maximise natural light throughout the day.

The building comprises several distinct but permeable volumes containing a variety of different functions, which are connected by an open central living space. The positioning, orientation, elevation and arrangement of forms allows uninterrupted views from and between these spaces and towards the surrounding open fields. A series of open-air terraces slotted in between offer unique views whilst allowing sunshine and shelter from the wind to be found. These terraces border the fields on all sides without walls or fences, gently connecting the house to the expansive, open landscape.

The house is split into three volumes, breaking the programme into the main two-storey family wing, the single-storey guest wing, and a connecting element in between that houses the kitchen, living and dining areas. Extended fingers of landscaping and stone retaining walls interact with the slightly sloping ground to help root the dwelling within the landscape. A single-storey garage projecting from the central link introduces the house on arrival as a stone wall that extends through the building to bridge the inside and outside.

As a direct response to the built agricultural and residential heritage of the immediate surroundings, the main material palette for the dwelling comprises stone rubble walls, untreated timber and a corrugated metal roof.

RB Residence is contemporary building in a rural setting, which embodies a clear departure from the traditional notion of a farmhouse. Inspiration for the building’s form and materiality came from the agricultural vernacular of the adjacent farm buildings and those found throughout the Tweed Valley. The new accommodation is conceived as a reinterpretation of these utilitarian sheds and barns, built from readily available and low-cost materials such as rough-sawn timber, mild steel and profiled metal sheet roofing.

The house’s primary orientation follows a northeast to southwest axis, which is typical of agricultural and industrial buildings along the length of the Tweed Valley. On approach, the property appears as a simple, low-slung pitched roof, built in corrugated sheet metal and supported by a functional steel and glass frame – a ubiquitous form throughout the Borders. Overhanging eaves soften the building’s edge, blurring the threshold from inside to out and heightening engagement with the surrounding landscape. Beneath the eaves and the projecting gable roofs, a continuous terrace extending around the perimeter of the house creates a series of covered spaces of varying scales and outlooks.

Continuous timber walls running the length of the house are broken by sliding screens that can be drawn aside to reveal floor-to-ceiling glazed openings. These glazed screens also slide away so that living spaces can be opened up to the terraces on all elevations. This series of internal, covered and external spaces combined with the layered façade provides adaptability to suit seasonal uses. A rational plan with generous circulation both inside and out provides a series of single- and double-height linked spaces, each with their own character, scale and framed views across the fields to the Cheviot Hills. Glazed gables provide focused views to the farm steading and to the forested areas to the northeast.

This first-floor flat in a 19th-century building in Edinburgh’s historic New Town had suffered from several unsympathetic alterations before being carefully refurbished by GRAS in close collaboration with our design-led clients, Nina and Craig Plummer. Original features were delicately revealed and new elements thoughtfully introduced throughout the property, which was built in 1878 to house a church hall and offices. An expanded kitchen and enlarged opening onto the living space retain the sense of the original layout through the addition of panelled double doors that fold back to reveal crafted pieces of furniture by designer Sebastian Cox for deVOL Kitchens.

Highly curated new details sit beautifully alongside time-worn elements, whether existing or introduced. The flat has been attentively updated to reflect the slow-living philosophy promoted by Nina and Craig through their online homewares store, Ellei. The flat also serves as a studio used for styled photoshoots of Ellei’s products, so the design had to encapsulate the values of thoughtful homemaking. The renovation project retains the bright and spacious feel of the rooms along with a sense of building’s history, whilst providing spaces that are suited to a contemporary, considered way of living.

Pre-fabricated modular house type suitable for a variety of sites in the Scottish Highlands. The principle ambition of this project is to create a series of high quality dramatic but functional spaces which have a strong relation with their natural surroundings in every direction and make effective use of natural light and ventilation. The square plan means the building can be sited in many different locations without significant alteration while the plan can be easily rotated or mirrored to suit different orientations and access points. The living / dining room is the largest space, located centrally and connected via covered external spaces to each of the four external elevations. This space is connected directly to each of the surrounding internal spaces: study / library, art studio, kitchen and the main bedroom. Each of these spaces can be opened to the surrounding wilderness and living spaces or they can be closed to create more intimate, private spaces. The large glazed openings to the main living space provide dramatic, framed views to the surrounding loch and woodland and a large roof-light allows clear views to the sky above.

The building has a simple, rational plan and utilises common tried and tested materials and techniques to create a unique, sculptural building. The outer walls consist of a well insulated timber frame, cedar clad construction which weathers naturally over time allowing the building to gradually blend in to its surroundings as a result of local weather patterns. The roof is also constructed using a well insulated timber frame, clad with lapped cedar boards as is commonly found in the traditional buildings of Scandinavia. The continuous timber cladding on all external faces gives the building a clear sculptural identity.

Formal in design, Thistleborough echoes Ireland’s rich heritage of indigenous neo-classical architecture. This proposed Palladian- style country house, south of Crumlin, N. Ireland, is some 1380 square metres in area and incorporates a dwelling house and ancillary accommodation, including a swimming pool.

The Pavilion is a newly built, self-contained three-storey house within the curtilage of Lamb’s House in Leith. Built in the style of early 18th century garden pavilions, with an  iconic ogee roof, the compact tower sits comfortably alongside the recently restored 17th-century Lamb’s House and its two-storey office extension. The romantic little building took three years to complete and now provides self-catering accommodation in the heart of the medieval Leith Conservation Area.

The Pavilion was built with impeccable attention to detail using locally sourced or reclaimed materials. The house was designed upside down, with the living areas on the top floor and the bedrooms below, which adds to the Pavilion’s uniqueness. The structure overlooks a south-facing walled garden that was inspired by the romantic gardens of the Italian Renaissance. With parterres, pleached hornbeams, roses and seasonal flowers, it provides the perfect setting for a drink or alfresco supper.

The property’s interior combines early 18th-century style with Scandinavian influences. The rooms feature a calming colour palette and are furnished with elegant antique pieces, perfectly in keeping with the main house. The living room on the top floor features a vaulted ceiling and an open fireplace that enhances the period feel. Other highlights include a bedroom with a timber-lined box bed, and the main bathroom’s freestanding cast-iron bath with a hand shower and traditional Victorian sink.

To book a stay at Lamb’s Pavilion see lambspavilion.com

Kennels Cottage is situated in the Cairngorms National Park offering breath taking views of the Glen with its ancient Caledonian Pine forest and the hills beyond. The Cottage was refurbished internally to upgrade the previous tartan inspired interior to a refreshing cool contemporary feel with an eclectic mix of the best of well-known design items and original Highland architecture.

The space holds a carefully selected range of handmade Scandinavian furniture with a bespoke and curated collection of Scottish handcrafted fixtures. This includes the oak kitchen table, bunk beds with oak ladder, built in display shelves and pitch pine boarding made from reclaimed floorboards. Slim underfloor heating has been installed and reclaimed floorboards were re-laid. The kitchen and utility room includes polished flooring made from Caithness slabs, handcrafted fitted units and oak worktops.

To create a more cosy and comforting interior the living room has been lined with wood-panelling which surrounds the open fire. This now contemporary interior combined with elements of the original mid Victorian cottage reflects the Scottish traditions of hunting and sheltering people from the harsh but stunning natural climate, representing comfort and warmth. Kennels Cottage is part of Wildland projects.

Interior design by Ruth Kramer and photography by Martin Kaufmann.

This detached private house has undergone significant alteration over time, including the addition of a series of flat roofed extensions to the North and its division into two apartments before later being reconciled to form a single dwelling. The latter extensions were built to a poor standard and were suffering from extensive water ingress, dampness and dry rot, and as a result.

Reconfiguring the internal layout and extending the body of the main house created better, healthier living spaces. The existing roof void has been converted to form new sleeping accommodation. By improving the arrangement of internal spaces, the house is better connected with its garden and more suited to modern family life.

In 2017 GRAS were granted planning and building warrant approval for a new 4 bedroom dwelling to PassivHaus standards in Gifford, East Lothian. On-site this year, the house will be one of the first buildings in East Lothian to meet the Gold Label standard for sustainability under Scottish Building Standards.

F-shaped in plan, with a long south-facing façade and internal courtyard, the replacement house will be timber clad using sustainable Scotlarch cladding, have a standing seam zinc sheet roof and magnesium coated galvanised rainwater goods. the building fabric will be constructed from closed panel, twin stud timber-frame walls and roof, and with full-fill pumped Cellulose insulation. This will give very good and high thermal mass with excellent heat retention and air-tightness.

The frame is supported on a fully insulated passive floor slab that will minimise any wall or floor cold bridging and will eliminate the need for footings.

Killiehuntly is a luxury self-catering property belonging to a collection of extraordinary restored retreats that form part of the Wildland conservation project. The large 19th-century farmhouse and steading form the centrepiece of a rural estate in the Cairngorms National Park. All buildings have been carefully restored under GRAS’s direction with the use of local, natural materials and traditional skills. The interiors have been sensitively upgraded for contemporary living, whilst retaining historic architectural features and character throughout. The farmhouse opened in spring 2016 as a serviced holiday let, with its various outbuildings serving as additional accommodation. The restoration included returning the original water wheel to working order, providing a strong reference to the agricultural heritage of the farm.

Strathmore Lodge is a unique self-catering property belonging to a collection of extraordinary restored retreats that form part of the Wildland conservation project. The Lodge, which dates back to the early 1920s, lies at a bend on the banks of the Strathmore River as it flows northwards into Loch Hope. This refurbishment project was the first step towards restoring a number of traditional corrugated tin houses across Sutherland, which have been part of the highland vernacular for decades.

Glenfeshie Bothy was renovated and extended to provide an access stair to the attic space increasing its capacity for the walkers who use it. The roof was replaced, fully insulated and lined internally with douglas fir boards. A new extension was built in stone using traditional techniques to house the new internal access stair which was also constructed in douglas fir. This extension also houses storage areas for the bothy. The two rooms on the ground floor have new flooring throughout and new stoves installed as the chimney was rebuilt. New doors and windows were installed throughout. The toilet was also fully refurbished to provide two toilets as opposed to one. 

Lissan Demesne, Cookstown, is an estate owned by a charity for the benefit of the local community. When GRAS became involved, the whole property was in poor repair after decades of declining fortunes. Following a Feasibility Study, GRAS completed emergency repairs at Lissan House and a Conservation Management Plan of the estate. Major phase 1 works then followed, involving external restoration and internal upgrading of the house, improvements to access and parking, construction of an adventure play area, and collaboration with an external consultant to provide discreet interpretation. GRAS worked with key stakeholders to retain Lissan’s character as a unique family home and provide visitors with an insight into the history of its occupants. Phase 2  works, for the repair and conversion of the adjacent outbuildings to form further visitor facilities will recommence when funding becomes available.

On the Isle of Vaila, Vaila Hall, a late 17thC castellated mansion has undergone complete conservation, with minor alterations and additions to create a unique private dwelling in the dramatic landscape of the Shetland Islands. Mucklaberry Tower, C19th 2-storey square plan Baronial reconstruction, was also refurbished as a retreat. The nearby Arts and Crafts farmhouse of Cloudin was fully refurbished and harled to protect it against the Atlantic gales.

This category ‘A’ listed building, the first ‘Palladian’ style house to be built in Scotland, dates from the late seventeenth century. By the early 1990’s, gutted by fire, and a derelict shell, it was acquired by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT). Work started on its restoration in 1993 and continued in phases as grant funding became available.

The final phase was completed in March 2001 with assistance from Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The restoration of this building demonstrates the adaptability of a 300 year-old house to provide modern office accommodation and function rooms. Groves-Raines Architects was appointed by the SHBT in 2011 to carry out a detailed condition survey, prepare a prioritised schedule of repairs and provide a fully costed 20 year forward maintenance plan covering both the building fabric and services.

The creation of a comfortable, and contemporary dwelling through the refurbishment and re-instatement of this 17th Century category B listed farmhouse and steading range, including the restoration of an original tower house and mill wheel. Lightweight elements were introduced to link new accommodation in the steading buildings. Alterations to the steading itself are limited and seek to maintain the character of the existing courtyard, resulting in a dignified and practical family residence.

Completed in 2010, Station Road house was the first to achieve a Category 6 (excellent) environmental rating in Ireland and is close to passive standard. The house is of a traditional “Tuscan” style to suit this important conservation area to be in scale with the neighbouring nineteenth century style villas.

A-Listed Belmont House was built in 1775 on the most northerly of the Shetland Isles; Unst. The country house had fallen into an advanced state of dereliction when the Belmont Trust was established in 1996, with an aim to save and faithfully restore the building. The conservation philosophy was to disturb the existing fabric of the house as little as possible, whilst restoring the original fabric and features.

The full and detailed conservation of the interior and finishes was undertaken by a small team of local tradesmen from Unst. Original materials were re-used where possible and salvaged materials were introduced to match where required. The project received generous support from a number of agencies and charities, including Historic Scotland and Shetland Islands Council.

Photographs by Mark Sinclair

Internal Alterations to a B-listed, three-storey townhouse on India Street in Edinburgh’s New Town. The project involved the faithful restoration of the property, returning several rooms to their original configuration and reinstating or repairing a range of original features. Stonework, roofing, window and drainage repairs were carried out on the exterior of the building, and where possible, existing floorboards were preserved.

New electrical, central heating and plumbing systems were designed and installed with great care and attention to detail to ensure that they did not have a detrimental effect on the quality of the building, while radiators and fittings were specified to match the buildings period, with the exception of a contemporary kitchen, designed and installed by Newcastle Kitchens.

Niddry Castle is a scheduled ancient monument and category A  listed building which comprises a large and imposing late 15^th / early 16^th century L-plan tower house. The castle had lain empty and largely ruinous for many years until the late 20^th century when limited repair works were undertaken. GRAS were appointed by new owners in 2006 to survey the building, establish the extent of repair and remedial works required and apply to Historic Environment Scotland for grant finance. This application was successful and generous grant funding was secured from HES.

Following this, consents were obtained and an extensive package of external and internal conservation and repair works was undertaken, including rebuilding the gable walls and parapets, extensive masonry repairs and complete re-roofing. The works were completed in 2010 and the castle is once again fully occupied and its future made secure.

An exclusive new housing development which was granted planning permission and listed building consent as part of an enabling package to facilitate restoration and reconstruction of the 17th century Sydserf House in East Lothian. The new ‘steading’ complex based on the original 19th century steading comprises of five new dwellings with courtyards and gardens.

The project required the reinstatement of missing period features to a fine Greek revival house as well as all necessary repair and new services. The stair had its cast iron balustrade restored and panelled doors and cornices were put back as required. The project included re-roofing and masonry repairs. The fine carving to the entrance doorway was restored including the full replacement of badly eroded elements. A new open plan kitchen, morning room was created and a large glazed garden room with timber lining and encaustic tile floor was added. New decorative etched glass panels were designed for various doors and windows.

Restoration of a listed country house – parts of which date to the 17th century, with much 19th century addition – from a hotel back to a family home. Complete refit of main house, with extensive stripping out, was required to remove unsympathetic alterations, stop the progress of rot and neglect, and to introduce new, modern services to create a comfortable family home.

The project included alterations to and restoration of the 19th century stable block to form staff accommodation and a party room. Also included was the restoration of the 19th century Lodge House with the addition of a new timber framed extension and repairs and restoration of the Doocot, Apple House and greenhouse.

Completed in 2006, this ogee roofed pavilion was an extension to a 16th century Towerhouse. The stone built pavilion opens onto the garden, accommodating a dining room and ancillary rooms. It sits comfortably in its setting, complementing both the Towerhouse and its Georgian extension.

A new-build private house in the Italianate manner with traditional detailing and materials of high quality. The design takes advantage of the spectacular views over Gullane Golf Course on it’s southern boundary.

A new-build private house on the site of a previous farmhouse, Drumskew was designed not only to enjoy its fine views of the countryside, by virtue of its elevated position, but also to have an internal focus to the enclosed courtyard. the detailed design of the building reflects design traditions of the region.

Constructed circa 1575, this L-plan tower house, a scheduled monument, lay in ruins for many years. Ancient Monuments Consent was granted for a full restoration of the ‘A’ listed building to a private house, in close collaboration with the Ancient Monuments Division of Historic Scotland. The restoration was meticulously carried out using appropriate materials and techniques, in keeping with the building, its character and significance.

Broadwoodside Steading is an outstandingly successful restoration, conversion and extension of a B Listed farm steading, creating a generous family house featuring ample guest accommodation and stables. The historic building provided a sound framework within which comfortable, contemporary accommodation fits seamlessly. Completely new elements; the archway, doocot, loggia and ogee garden room were incorporated to give cohesion to an otherwise disparate group of farm buildings.

Now a private shooting lodge, Hopes House in East Lothian was built in1823 for the Hays at Yester by James Burn of Haddington. Work consisted of a complete refurbishment of the original house and the redesign and replacement of the rear service wing to include catering kitchen and staff accommodation. Within the walled garden are new ogee-roofed pavilions creating further staff accommodation. External works include landscaping, new tennis court and fountain.

Arniston House, one of Scotland’s architectural gems, was designed by William Adam and completed in the 1750s by his son; John Adam. Later alterations by John and Robert Adam resulted in the grandest rooms, the drawing room and the dining room. Sadly these were severely damaged by water ingress and subsequent dry rot in the 1950s. With grant aid from Historic Scotland these rooms have now been reinstated. The Dundas-Bekker family now open the house to the public.

The project involved restoration of the listed external fabric and remodelling the interior, including the replacement of the original timber roof structures, to create a light and modern space for living and working.

Goblusk House is situated on the banks of Loch Erne. The design was based on Palladio’s Villa Forni-Cerato, with further influences taken from a neighbouring Victorian Italianate mansion. The plan of this family house is centered on a dramatic elliptical stair surmounted by a glazed cupola.

Liberton House is an A-listed, fortified house, built in the late 16th century, and was home to the Groves-Raines family and Groves-Raines Architects until moving to Lamb’s House in 2010. Gutted by fire in 1991 after a long period of neglect, the house and gardens have been restored and now form a comfortable modern home and offices with a beautiful Renaissance garden.

Tollcross House was built in 1848 by David Bryce for the Dunlop family. It was converted into a local museum at the turn of the century within the recently created Tollcross Park. Latterly derelict, this category “A” Listed Building was purchased by Groves-Raines Architects for £1.00, restored, and converted into 13 flats for the elderly in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland in 1992.

Edinample Castle, an L-shaped B-listed 16th Century towerhouse overlooks the banks of Loch Earn. Edinample was a derelict shell with a large 19th century extension when the Groves-Raines family bought it in 1985. After 6 years of work, it was sold in 1991, largely restored and its future secured.

Annanhill House is magnificent A listed Georgian mansion, built for the Dunlop family in Kilmarnock. This house, dating from 1700 and altered in 1820s, suffered years of neglect when it was refurbished and converted in 1989 providing 6 spacious dwellings. A new Georgian style ‘stables’ development was built in the grounds, forming 20 houses.

The successful restoration of Bankton House marked the completion of a protracted campaign to save this historic house from vandalism and neglect. Built ca 1700, the house was gutted by fire in 1966 and reduced to little more than a shell: roofless, with no interior features. After eight years of painstaking work the house was faithfully restored using traditional materials and appropriate detailing. The house with two distinctive pavilions is now a landmark, visible on the north side of the A1 near Tranent. The restoration of this B listed mansion was supported by Historic Scotland and East Lothian Enterprise Trust.

Forter Castle lies at the head of Glenisla, at the entrance to the Balloch Pass to Glenshee and the Moncea Pass to Breamar. Built by the Ogilvies of Airlie in 1560 it was only occupied for 80 years when it was sacked in 1640. Forter remained derelict for 340 years until 1988 when it was purchased by the Pooley family. It had lost all interior details including the stairs and vaults and required considerable research to ascertain the original layout and details. The restoration from a roofless ruin took two years. The project was awarded financial assistance from Historic Scotland.

Change of use and restoration of late 19th century derelict brewery to form 22 new town houses and apartments. The building’s courtyard and walled garden were reinstated and new timber architectural elements took their cues from the building’s early industrial aesthetic.

RIBA Award for Scotland 1988 Architecture Award
Edinburgh Architectural Association Annual Award for Architecture  Commendation 1987

Balfour House, Cameron Toll, retirement home consisting of 49 flats, was built for Viewpoint Housing Association in 1983.

“Ingenious polychrome flats by Nicholas Groves-Raines…four storeys of red brick with yellow brick stripes along lintels and cornice, long and short yellow quoins at the windows and obtuse angles. The emphasis is horizontal in the window glazing, vertical in the framework that shoots up the front of each bay to make a triangular balcony on top.” The Buildings of Scotland EDINBURGH by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker, Penguin Books 1984.

Part of Robert Adam’s most famous square, the principal rooms at no 3 had never been completed. The design of the new plaster ceiling was carried out in the spirit of Adam and constructed by master plasterers.

One of three fortified houses rescued from a derelict state by the Groves-Raines family. Peffermill House in Edinburgh, built in 1636 by Edward Edgar and his wife Margret, had suffered years of neglect and subsequent vandalism. In 1981, after meticulous restoration, the family moved in with the architectural practice sharing the ground floor. The grounds were later transformed, creating a series of gardens: a water garden, a flower garden, a vegetable garden and a wild garden. In 1995 the house was sold, now a part of the house is let as holiday accommodation.

In 1969 Nicholas Groves-Raines bought this small cottage on Gola Island two miles off the Donegal Coast. Set within a clachan of now largely derelict houses, the cottage has over the years been conserved and very carefully modernised not to spoil its original charm. It now has running water and electricity and provides a wonderful bolthole for the whole family.