Nethy Bridge Amenity Housing

This development provides 13 amenity bungalows for older residents in Nethy Bridge, on a prominent village site long identified for senior housing. The design sought to respond sensitively to its central location, creating a place that feels both rooted in local tradition and supportive of contemporary living.

A rural vernacular language was adopted, with steep pitched roofs, traditional chimneys, and a carefully chosen palette of slate, white roughcast and timber cladding. These elements give the new homes a familiar character, allowing the development to sit comfortably within its Cairngorms setting.

The homes are arranged around a shared landscaped courtyard, a social heart designed to encourage interaction while maintaining a sense of privacy for residents. Framing views across adjacent playing fields, the courtyard incorporates dry stone walls, Caithness stone paving and native planting to reinforce the local landscape character.

Internally, each two-bedroom bungalow has been planned for accessibility and adaptability, with level thresholds, generous circulation, natural light introduced through sun pipes, and discreetly integrated fire safety systems. Built using an enhanced timber kit system with efficient heating solutions, the dwellings deliver both environmental performance and affordability.

The result is a scheme that balances social value with architectural quality, combining the intimacy of domestic scale with the collective identity of a small community. Through its form, materiality and spatial arrangement, the project establishes a benchmark for well-designed, sustainable housing for older people in a rural context.