Panoramic views

Framing the glorious views and prioritising light were key for architect Roderick James when designing Eagle Rock, the home near Argyll that he shares with wife Amanda. The outstanding Scottish location with 360-degree views inspired him to use large-scale glazing to encompass dramatic vistas in all directions along the Sound of Mull, supplemented by VELUX roof windows.

Special arrangement

As a result of its mossy roof and low-lying aspect, the elliptical shaped house appears to be embedded into the hilltop. Inside, a stunning living room with commanding views of the coastline flows seamlessly into the kitchen and dining area. And at the very heart of this 400 sq m, four bedroom, four bathroom home is an internal courtyard overlooked by a first floor gallery. Its central atrium separates into the ‘eagle’s wings’ the house is named for: one for Roderick and Amanda, and the other for guests. Intriguingly, not one of the rooms has a right angle which, along with the gentle light from roof windows, softens the appearance of all the areas within the house.

Building the dream

It took a combination of Roderick’s architectural and Amanda’s interior design skills to bring the building into being (the husband-and-wife team are also behind Out of the Blue, building imaginative designs for small-scale living, available via Airbnb). The couple agreed an open-book cost-plus accounting system with their trusted builder Angus Macdonald, with agreed rates for staff and materials. ‘We effectively shared any setbacks and delays with the builder. The result was a house built well below the cost of comparable structures,’ he says. ‘The builder knew he couldn’t make a loss and made a reasonable, rather than a large profit. It’s a system we’ve found fair for both parties.’

Bringing in light

Though light is incredibly important in homes, Roderick was keen to avoid glare. Wide overhanging eaves restrict summer glare while still allowing maximum solar gain in winter. ‘In the main living room, rather than the high glazed gables which you so often see, we used large VELUX roof windows which provide an ever-changing lovely light quality in all seasons,’ he says.

Practical option

VELUX roof windows can provide up to twice the light of a vertical window and three times more light than a traditional dormer window. Designed with a goal of transforming spaces into favourite places, VELUX roof windows are a positive choice, improving our environments with daylight and fresh air. Since we can spend 90% of our time indoors, good daylight is a must. It can boost our productivity and make us feel more creative. Not only that, but it regulates our circadian rhythm, and affects our stress levels and mood.

Energy smart

Eagle Rock is incredibly energy efficient, costing virtually nothing to run in electricity. Roderick included high levels (450mm) of recycled newspaper insulation in the walls and roof, an air source heat pump and wet underfloor heating, plus a 15kW array of PV panels. ‘We also store excess electricity as heat in thick concrete floor slabs,’ he says. The north wall has small slit windows to conserve heat and provides an almost fortified appearance, like the ancient Scottish Brochs or roundhouse buildings.

Find out more

VELUX roof windows can play a key role in regulating air flow, temperature and natural light in your home. Explore the many options for transforming your home on the VELUX website.