Ecological Design

Simpson & Brown believes that the conservation of historic buildings is part of the wider natural and landscape conservation movement and has a strong interest in environmental issues. The practice aims to fuse extensive experience of traditional building materials and techniques with sound ecological principles and ethics. Simpson & Brown subscribes to the view that Scotland's woodland ecology can be sustained through excellence in new design and conservation.

Projects with particularly interesting environmental aspects include green oak construction at 28-30 The Close, Newcastle; the ecological treatment of dry rot at Kinlochmoidart House and Taymouth Castle; low impact building using local materials and composting toilets at the Rowardennan Visitor Centre; and the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick which has a breathing-wall construction with cellulose fibre insulation and makes as much use of untreated natural materials as possible.