Baillie Baillie Architects has designed Iorram, a contemporary cottage in the Scottish Highlands, Scotland.

Celebrating the use of local timber, as well as local tradition, Iorram is a one-bedroom cottage designed with a low-tech, natural materials-led approach, using monolithic clay block walls – a material which is simple to construct, durable and completely plastic-free.

The deep blockwork is finished in natural clay plaster and traditional lime harling. Scottish Douglas Fir, sustainably felled and milled in the Highlands, was used for all timber structural elements, wall linings and details.

"The house lies within a designated conservation village, said Baillie Baillie Architects."We were conscious that we didn’t want to force a connection to local architectural tradition."

Instead, the architects looked for a contemporary method of construction that would resonate with how traditional buildings in the area are made, with deep, solid masonry walls and inserted timber structures.

The result is a building rooted in place, with an authenticity to its own construction.

This project has been longlisted in the small project category of Dezeen Awards 2025.

Studio: Baillie Baillie Architects
Project: Iorram