Royal Scottish Academy
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • What's on
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Events
    • Past Exhibitions
  • About
    • Academicians
    • History
    • Governance
    • RSA Team
    • Work with us
    • RSA200
    • Accessibility
    • Contact
  • Collect
    • Academicians' Gallery
    • Collections Management
    • Art Rental
    • Artwork Commissions
    • Publications
  • Support
    • RSA Friends
    • RSA Patrons
    • Legacies and Bequests
    • Corporate Partners
  • Opportunities
    • Exhibition Open Calls
    • Student Awards
    • Residencies
  • Our Collections
    • About RSA Collections
    • Explore our collections
    • Picture Library
    • Bookshelf
    • Research & Contact
  • Discover
    • News
    • Stories
    • Watch
Cart
0 items £
Checkout

Item added to cart

View cart & checkout
Continue shopping
Menu
  • Menu
  • Donate

Artworks

Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Somner Macdonald Architects, The Modern Farmhouse

Somner Macdonald Architects

The Modern Farmhouse
1:200 Site Context Model 
Balsa wood & cork
10 x 30 x 30 cm
Set in the rolling open countryside of East Lothian, we were asked to re-imagine what the farmhouse meant in the 21st century.  The design saw a disused farm shed converted...
Read more
Set in the rolling open countryside of East Lothian, we were asked to re-imagine what the farmhouse meant in the 21st century.  The design saw a disused farm shed converted into a spacious house with the principal spaces occupying the upper ground floor opening onto expansive views of the surrounding farmland.

Spine walls of salvaged brick anchor the house within the natural dell it sits in, almost forming a walled garden and creating both long and short views. There are notions of the picturesque and allusions to classic country houses.

A timber structure was employed to lend rhythm, scale and warmth to the extensive living areas that were open on both sides to raised terraces, light and views. A master suite occupied one end of the plan with offices and bedrooms containing the other.

The palette of materials could be described as agricultural, but the fine detailing elevates the timber cladding, metal roofing and red brick to something more. The large-scale roof and equally large-scale areas of glass build on the agricultural overtones their deliberate placement and design bring a level of sophistication and minimalism.

Close full details
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up

* denotes required fields

We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.

The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, The Mound, Edinburgh,  EH2 2EL

Contact     Privacy Policy     Terms of Use

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Send an email
View on Google Maps
Manage cookies
Copyright © Royal Scottish Academy 2025
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences