Archial Architects has won the design competition to replace outdated sheltered accommodation at Abbeyfield House, Rosemarkie with modern homes that more closely meet older tenants’ requirements.

The aim of the £1.8 million project in Fortrose, Ross-shire, is to develop accommodation that offers tenants an opportunity to live a ‘family’ lifestyle in a secure and sustainable environment that maximises community integration.

Abbeyfield is an international organisation established to combat loneliness in the older age group by providing supported accommodation in a family atmosphere. Tenants are encouraged to live independently but contribute to the stimulation provided by social interaction and mutual support.

Greg Duncan, Director at Inverness-based Archial Architects, said: “As Abbeyfield is caring for people in the later stages of their lives, our brief for the design was to express a balance between constructive sensory stimulation against the need for a secure and calming environment in a project which integrated housing with some communal facilities.

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“Our design has sought to meet these objectives by maximising the number of dwellings whilst retaining as much of the existing garden setting as possible. We have orientated dwellings to maximise solar-gain, particularly with views towards the Moray Firth.”

Phase one of the project will be built as a single storey courtyard development within the garden grounds, while the existing building continues to operate. It will comprise three one-bedroom cottages, five two-bedroom cottages, together with communal kitchen, dining and lounge facilities, set around an internal sunlit garden court with a fully glazed walkway around its perimeter.

The cottages are designed to ensure that all living rooms and bedrooms have a view outward, towards the gardens. Each cottage is entered from the walkway around the garden court and each has a private patio fronting onto the main garden grounds.

Following completion of phase one, the second phase of the development will see the demolition and replacement of the existing building with a new two-storey building comprising a main entrance and administration office, disabled WC’s, three multipurpose rooms, three one-bedroom flats, three two-bedroom flats, a laundry and assisted bathroom on each level, two lounges and a two-bedroom caretakers flat.

The ground floor lounge affords views out over the Moray Firth and direct access out to a garden terrace whilst the first floor lounge enjoys the same view and has access to a balcony. The flats are designed to ensure that all living rooms and bedrooms have a view towards the gardens.

(GK)