Set within the prestigious surroundings of the Dee Valley, Number Four – The Paddocks forms part of a contemporary development on the south side of Banchory, where Fiddes Architects were appointed to design three of the five new dwellings.
This L-shaped dwelling combines a two-storey volume with a single-storey wing projecting southward into the garden. The orientation of the house has been carefully considered to maximise solar gain — with the south and west elevations benefitting from natural light throughout the day, while the north-facing openings serve primarily as functional windows to ancillary spaces. A clear horizontal delineation in materials visually unites the three masses of the building into a cohesive form. Above 2.2 metres, the external envelope is finished in black corrugated cladding, while the lower panels feature Thermopine timber. Together, these materials create a refined contrast in tone and texture, grounding the house naturally within its landscape.
The primary entrance is sheltered beneath a bespoke metal canopy, establishing a distinct sense of arrival. The single-storey living and dining wing extends from the main form, continuing the corrugated roofline and enclosing a semi-courtyard garden that connects seamlessly with the interior. A fully glazed south-facing gable enhances the visual relationship between the living spaces and the surrounding woodland, while carefully placed windows optimise natural light and frame views throughout the day.
Inside, the ground floor accommodates generous open-plan living, dining, and kitchen areas, complemented by a flexible snug or study, a private guest suite, accessible WC, and a practical utility and boot room with direct access to the carport and garage. The upper level provides three additional bedrooms and a spacious family bathroom, creating a home that balances functionality, warmth, and distinctive architectural character.Crafted with care and precision, this family home celebrates natural light, honest materials, and a sense of permanence reflecting both the character of its setting and the refined design approach of Fiddes Architects.
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.