Black House: A Home with a Black Exterior and Simple Interior Design
The house located in Highland, UK, was designed by Rural Design Architect. With a land area of 145 square meters, the client wanted a comfortable family home on the Isle of Skye with limited funds. The house with 3 bedrooms, an art studio, and a study room had to be designed efficiently, simply, and easy to build.
The building plot itself has an unusual triangular shape. Due to the shape of the land, the house has a unique design. It is exposed on the west side and needs to withstand the weather in this area. To the northwest, there is a view towards Bracadale.
The house with a triangular plot is designed with a trapezoidal shape on its floor plan with visible 4 sides. The exterior of the house, which is designed in black, is designed for one floor. To enter the house, visitors pass through a long ramp located on the sloping side of the building. Visitors are then greeted by a corridor leading to various other rooms.
The bedrooms, studio, and bathroom occupy the corners of the building. In the corridor, the entrance and the family room are separated by low walls, where the walls do not extend to the ceiling, allowing air and light to circulate well inside the house.
The family room, dining room, and kitchen are located in one area close to the open deck. This area is the largest in the house and serves as a gathering place, offering views of the natural surroundings on two sides.
The design of this single-story building takes into account wind direction and environmental conditions. The architect also drew inspiration from ad-hoc buildings that are part of the rural landscape. The black corrugated cladding that surrounds the exterior of the house harmonizes with the farming area. Furthermore, it is durable and efficient without complex connections.
Ramps and decks in the house serve as two relaxing areas that act as transitional spaces between the indoor and outdoor areas of the building. The entire building envelope is well-insulated and very straightforward.
The house's wall material uses concrete blocks, providing a solid and rough appearance that contrasts with the timber material inside the rooms and the smooth cement floor finish, providing a sense of coolness. In the family room, there is also a traditional fireplace that serves as a source of room heating.
The concrete staircase leading to the central space is one of the unique elements of the house. The exposed unfinished concrete serves as evidence of the hard work put into building the house. Therefore, in addition to being a design concept, the staircase becomes a symbol for the house.
source: black house | photo by Rigel Nigden
