Laidneskea, Perthshire
Laidneskea is an attractive traditional steading on a slope high above the river Tay near Aberfeldy, built in the 19th century as a model farm for the Stewarts. The demands of modern farming had made Laidneskea redundant and it was slowly falling into dereliction. A fine building constructed of local stone, Laidneskea is arranged around an open-ended courtyard. There was evidence of a walled lean-to wing to the west and the remains of a circular horse-gang to the East. The proposals entailed restoring the U shaped steading, horse-gang and lean-to wing, and dividing them into four houses arranged around the central shared courtyard.
The conversion was complemented by building a new house to the South East of the steading on the footprint of an earlier building, adding to the picturesqueness of the group. Natural materials such as stone, wood, lead and slate were used throughout, with traditional detailing on the existing buildings and a more contemporary approach on the new additions. New openings were kept to a minimum with the doors and windows painted in grey and blue. Modern flat roofed extensions were added in timber, with clear articulation between the new and the old.
