Sunday 16 July 2017

The Gate Lodges: Tim's Plans

Having recently purchased the gate lodges of Balintore Castle, thoughts naturally go to how these structures could be brought back into use. So when my friend Tim asked me if he could measure up the buildings and draw up plans as a project for his course on historic building design, I was delighted. Tim is the presiding genius behind "The Big House Instagrammed" which is a Facebook page featuring country houses around the UK, with an emphasis on the ruined and the Welsh.

Tim's project brief was to design a modern element as part of a suggested reuse of a historic structure, and in the three plans below he has succeeded spectacularly. He even got an A for the project! The proposal includes a small glass extension to the east lodge. Due to the size of the lodges Tim did not want to make the extension too big. Ironically, neither of us is a huge fan of the current vogue for adding glass extensions to historic buildings. 

Tim has used both lodges, splitting them up into "day living" and "night living".  Both lodges have a toilet ;-) to avoid any midnight trips across the drive to the other lodge. Little did Tim know that this echos the historic use of the buildings, with a bedroom in the west lodge and east lodge containing the remainder of the domestic accommodation. I recently found this out in a phone conversation with David Storrier who I mention in a previous blog entry.

Click on the images for an enlarged view, and click on the image captions to access the original PDF files.

Balintore gate lodges - proposed external plans 

Balintore gate lodges - proposed floor plan
Tim's plans really work well as a ground level solution. He has obviously thought about the layout very carefully, and the kitchen is a triumph of resourcefulness with units against the existing wall and glass elsewhere. This would definitely appeal to the tourist market, if the gate lodges became holiday lets. Plenty of food for thought in these plans. The gate lodges are surprisingly tall, and there is additional scope for a mezzanine level or an upper floor to relieve the accommodation pressure which forces split-lodge living.

Thank you Tim!


10 comments:

  1. How exciting!

    Have you considered working with the Landmark Trust? This type of project, and its use as a holiday flat, is right up their alley!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Ross, my thoughts went in a similar direction. However, the Landmark Trust said my gate lodges were not "distinguished" enough for consideration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Huh????????

      Their reply makes no sense.

      Your gate lodges are totally fabulous!

      Delete
    2. I suspect the Landmark Trust is inundated with offers, and that as a result they are highly selective and go with the "whims" of architectural fashion - bijou and Georgian is good, Victorian is still out of favour. Thank you for liking my gate lodges. I feel they are meretricious myself.

      Delete
  3. Hi I am in Rattray until Saturday. Would you like some still aerial photographs and a Video run? Am a professional aerial photographer on holiday from Yorkshire! (No charge) see you had one done a couple of years ago Best. Alan Fisher. Eaglesinthesky.com. Alan@eaglesinthesky.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alan,

      Yes go for it! I would love to see the results.

      Delete
  4. Hi David, I'm illustrating stone historical artefacts from The Tulchan down to Auldallan and would love to include a detail of Balintore Castle, progress can be seen here: staneswinames.org it's a long project (but you'll be used to that) as I have over 500 to complete. Could you allow me access with my camera or pass on a pic of your favourite masonry detail of the building please, I'll return an illustration. I'd also love a contact for Balintore House for their south gable date stone if possible. Balintore is a great undertaking.
    Thanks, Kevin

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Kevin, you have an amazing eye for illustration and I would be delighted if you turned your gaze towards Balintore Castle. Over the years I have spotted more and more delightful detailing in the stone work e.g. the dormer heads, the baltizans, the stone canons, the ballusters on the belvedere, the entrance and the chimneys on the south elevation. You are very welcome to have access. Thanks for your kind words, David

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kind words and much appreciated David, thanks. Kevin

    ReplyDelete
  7. David I have a friend who does textiles, if you need a unique printed linen for curtains or anything, its all digital and her prices are great. Tim's drawings sparked the idea, just a thought ! xx

    ReplyDelete