The Highland Council has approved two Konishi Gaffney-designed homes in Glenelg, Western Highlands, featuring concrete-free foundations to protect the local biodiversity. Located on peat bogs, the homes are built with timber posts on stone foundations, a timber frame, and a zinc roof, minimizing excavation and preserving the peaty topsoil. Designed with Edinburgh-based engineer Allt, this approach reduces the carbon footprint. The highly insulated, airtight homes will be off-grid, utilizing a borehole heat pump, photovoltaic cells, and potentially a micro water turbine.

The design features long, low forms with pitched roofs, maximizing views and protecting against rainfall. The main house has a kinked plan to differentiate sea and mountain views, while the smaller house maintains privacy and views of the beach. Both houses have terraces for year-round outdoor use, and the Douglas Fir roof structure adds warmth inside. The clients, originally from Norway and Mexico, plan to live and work in the Highlands, with the smaller house providing rental income. Construction is set to begin in early 2025, with completion expected in 2026.