loader monteith nestles a base for cyclists in a scottish meadow

an office + two houses by Loader Monteith

Emerging from a picturesque meadow in Inverness, Scotland, a new development is taking shape by Architects Loader Monteith. The team is breathing new life into a narrow strip of forgotten roadside land to introduce a new headquarters for H&I Adventures, an international mountain bike tour operator. This news marks the first phase of the mixed-use Brownfield Project — which will ultimately comprise an office for the international eco-tourism business and two eco-friendly residences — all set against the wild landscape of northern Scotland.

images © Henry Woide

reviving a forgotten meadow in rural scotland

Owners and operators of H+I Adventures, Catherine Shearer and Euan Wilson, turned to Loader Monteith Architects for its experience with complex terrains and its forward-thinking approach to sustainability. Embedded in the design team‘s ethos is a commitment to reviving rural communities through innovative architectural solutions. The masterplan for this slender, sloping site includes three distinct buildings — a two-story office complex and bike storage facility, as well as two private residences. The first, completed phase of this project comprises the office and one residence, while the second residence is slated for construction in early 2024.

Matt Loader, Director at Loader Monteith says: ‘Scotland has a wealth of brownfield sites and inoperative farmsteads that present a compelling format for retrofitting and building new rural communities that support social connection, sustainable housing, and lite commercial enterprise. An Office + Two Houses is the realisation of our early research and interest in a refreshed model of rural living, which is continually developing.’

the new house and office are set against the backdrop of inverness, scotland

The office stands as the welcoming gateway for cyclists. The two-story H&I Adventures office is strategically positioned to the northeast of the site, enveloped in sleek burnt larch cladding, featuring a rich corten corner detail and recessed glazing, all built to capture the distant views across Beauly Firth. Inside, the office includes a workshop, two shower and changing rooms, a kitchen, and a breakout space on the ground level. The kitchen, illuminated by floor-to-ceiling sliding glazing, fosters a connection with the outdoors year-round.

The low-energy home is thoughtfully integrated into the site’s sloping topography, providing water views and demarcating the living and working zones. The first completed house showcases a unique Z-shaped plan, with an open-plan kitchen and living area that steps down into a spacious social space, taking full advantage of the sloping terrain. The house’s character is intertwined with the landscape through the use of natural materials, featuring irregular timber battens and slender metal elements.

H&I Adventures headquarters emerges from forgotten roadside land

the structures make efficient use of the topography, offering both water views and distinct living and working zones
the material palette is made up of timber battens and slender metal elements