The aspiration was to design a family home which would to embrace the rich, mature surrounding landscape and represent the essence of modern luxury living combined with natural beauty. This family home provides a contemporary haven in a beautiful suburban setting that feels worlds away from the bustling city on its doorstep.
Overlapping the footprint of the former house and garage the site’s focal point remains largely unchanged. The design preserves the essence of the original entrance while featuring a well-thought-out driveway leading to a covered carport, improving accessibility and keeping the aesthetic continuity. The sheltered area offers access to the front door entrance canopy but also provides a convenient utility entrance.
Notably, the primary single-story living area is intentionally angled at 13 degrees West for optimal sunlight. This design consideration harmonises comfort with sustainability, creating a bright and inviting living environment while minimizing the need for excessive artificial lighting or heating.
The architectural layout adopts an angular H-Plan configuration, blending a two-story section with a well-proportioned single-story form, interconnected by a subtle yet striking glazed link section.
Using locally sourced natural materials, Drydykes is a carefully crafted home that seamlessly blends a fusion of modernity and heritage. Black Thermopine Cladding honours the blackened shingles that covered the original building. The intentional use of varying cladding colours, profiles and orientations add to the texture and character of the exterior while also helping to define the form of the building. This choice not only adds to the sustainable credentials but also defines the modern architectural form and ensures a respectful integration with the surrounding environment.
Black Corrugated Steel Roofing, inspired by traditional Scottish design, helps minimise building mass and echoes the simplicity of rural Scottish vernacular. Natural Slate, wrapping the roof and walls, nods to the past with simple clipped eaves roof lines and earthy grey tones providing a sense of place and belonging.
This thoughtful curation of materials culminates in a natural colour palette that, when combined with meticulous detailing, gives rise to a design that blends modern aesthetics with traditional Scottish architectural forms.
Drydykes is a unique modern home that seamlessly integrates luxury with the natural beauty and rich heritage of its surroundings. The deliberate material selection, sustainable features, and commitment to energy efficiency contribute to a distinctive and environmentally conscious living space in this suburban oasis.
Office Administrator
Angela started working with the Fiddes Architects team in 2021 as office administrator.
Angela has an enthusiasm for home and interior design and has been on the other side of the table during her own Fiddes architects self-build project.
Outside of the office Angela enjoys walking, keeping fit and interior decorating.
Project Architect
Eddie became part of our team in 2019, bringing with him a wealth of experience garnered from diverse practices, spanning projects ranging from public sector housing to multimillion-pound private estate developments on the picturesque West Coast of Scotland.
Since his arrival at the practice, Eddie has played a vital role in the successful delivery of numerous conversion, extension, and new build projects. His dedication and commitment were further underscored by successfully qualifying as a chartered Architect in 2022.
A key member of the team Eddie assumes the role of lead Architect on several projects, where his penchant for problem-solving and passion for environmentally conscious design shine through.
Apart from raising a young family Eddie is fascinated by engines, cars and a big motor sports fan.
Associate Architect
Since joining Fiddes Architects in 2016 Finlay has helped grow the practice’s reputation and has been central to our journey in gaining a number of architectural awards. Finlay qualified as a chartered Architect in 2018 and has since honed his expertise assuming responsibility for their oversight from inception to fruition, spanning all phases of design and construction.
Finlay has experience in both the Public and Private Sectors of the Architectural and Construction industry and had a lead role in large scale housing regeneration projects, adaptation works, and private housing projects.
Finlay’s passion in architecture rests with simplistic, contemporary, design which maintains subtle links to the vernacular whether that be in building, landscape or cultural forms. Finlay believes that great design is manifested from attention to detail and working closely with clients and as a team.
In his downtime Finlay enjoys travelling, sports, D&D and gardening.
Director / Architect
Having served his time with two well-known Scottish Architect Practices in Glasgow, Eoghain also worked in New Zealand as a Project Architect before establishing Fiddes Architects in 2009 in his native home town Banchory.
With a building contractor as a father and being brought up on a building site it was little wonder that Eoghain knew from a very young age that he wanted to become an Architect. The knowledge gained in those formulative years where every home was a self-build gave Eoghain an excellent foundation in the hands-on side of building which he still draws on to this day.
Eoghain loves what he does and is passionate about all things design related with a strong focus on how things are put together. Responsible for developing the vision of the practice and coordinating the design of projects Eoghain works with a talented team of architects to deliver buildings that improve the life of our clients. Throughout the project process he is directly involved and is passionate about the detail, ensuring that we deliver buildings where the architectural vision has been carried through to completion.
Outside of work Eoghain loves the outdoors, especially camping trips around Scotland with his young family, keeping fit & playing music. At home small scale projects are always on the go,,,,,, building things is in his DNA.