A couple's dream home on Scotland's rocky west coast has become an award-winning example of modernist architecture, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and the desert modernism of Palm Springs. The house, named Rock Cove, sits on the shore of Loch Long on the Rosneath peninsula, 40 miles north-west of Glasgow, on a site that was once home to disused Ministry of Defence huts.
John MacKinnon and his wife Laura transformed a 1940s cottage, previously a navy signalling station, into a contemporary home called Cape Cove. They then worked with architect Stuart Cameron of Cameron Webster to create Rock Cove on the adjacent brownfield land. The brief called for a single-level, step-free house that maximised views and was future-proofed for retirement, with a design that would jut out over the rocks below.
The resulting low-slung, cantilevered structure features floor-to-ceiling windows, triple-glazed to withstand extreme weather, and an exterior wrapped in Kebony timber that has weathered to a silvery finish. Inside, the generous kitchen-dining-living space is balanced by four en suite bedrooms, each opening onto a terrace. A wide corridor doubles as a room in its own right, displaying MacKinnon's collection of Aboriginal art.
Cameron advised anyone considering a similar project to consult local planning departments early, ask for recommendations for architects, and seek professionals who ask 'what if?' to push the vision forward. The house also includes durable, reusable materials such as wood and stone, and is let out for holidays, reflecting a focus on longevity and ease of maintenance.
