{"id":326523,"date":"2025-12-20T13:42:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T13:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/326523\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T13:42:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T13:42:29","slug":"3-small-space-lessons-from-ribas-remote-scottish-island-house-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/326523\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Small-Space Lessons From RIBA\u2019s Remote Scottish Island House Of The Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘Tis the season to reflect on the best of the year<\/a> that was, and architecture is no exception. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recently announced its 2025 House of the Year in collaboration with Channel 4’s Grand Designs \u2013 and, unsurprisingly, it’s the stuff of dreams.<\/p>\n

Caochan na Creige (which means “little quiet one by the rock”) was designed and built by architect partners Eilidh Izat and Jack Arundell on a remote island in the Outer Hebrides<\/a>. Eilidh and Jack opted for a unique, angular shape to reflect its craggy surroundings, using hyper-local stone and cedar cladding.<\/p>\n

\"small\"pinterest\"<\/a>Channel 4<\/p>\n

Eilidh and Jack designed and built the house by hand<\/p>\n

The house of the year judging panel praised its craft<\/a> and restraint, as well as its site-responsive design, saying: “The building blends effortlessly into the rugged Hebridean landscape, with a material palette that honours the ancient Lewisian gneiss rock surrounding it.”
<\/p>\n

Find out more about how the architects married this house with its extraordinary natural surroundings:<\/p>\n

At just 85 square metres, this petite project is also a masterclass in smart design for compact spaces. <\/p>\n

Here are three small-space lessons we’re taking from its interiors…<\/p>\n

1. Use a restrained palette\"small\"pinterest\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Elliot Shepperd<\/p>\n

By maintaining a cohesive colour palette<\/a> of just a few earthy shades throughout, Eilidh and Jack have created a harmonious, soothing scheme. This has allowed them to incorporate a variety of textures and shapes, from clay tiles to wooden bobbin stools, that add warmth and homeliness without the space feeling too busy. <\/p>\n

The same goes for materials: flowing the same poured concrete flooring and wooden cladding throughout blurs the boundaries to visually extend the interior.<\/p>\n

2. Keep storage open\"small\"pinterest\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Elliot Shepperd<\/p>\n

As well as extending sight lines, which makes a room feel larger, open storage also helps small spaces to stay clutter-free. <\/p>\n

When you can’t hide things away at the back of cupboards, everything you have needs to look good or serve a purpose, forcing you to combine function with beauty \u2013 plus it’s easier to keep track of what you have.<\/p>\n

3. Don’t be afraid to go big\"small\"pinterest\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Jack Arundell<\/p>\n

It may feel counterintuitive, but rather than shying away from large pieces, super-sizing one element can, in fact, make a room feel larger as fewer visual boundaries are breaking up a space. This vast canvas gives a generous feel to the corner of the kitchen space.<\/p>\n

With its pared-back palette and considered design, Caochan na Creige proves that restraint and craftsmanship can have just as much impact as grander designs \u2013 we can’t wait to see what these rising-star architects come up with next.<\/p>\n

From fox prints to bee mugs, 10 gifts for wildlife lovers this Christmas\"Merlins<\/a>Kaper Merlins Handmade Paper Sculpture<\/p>\n

Kaper’s elegant sculptures feature hand-cut plumage and pale hydrangea blossoms. This pair of merlins is perfect for ornithophiles particularly fond of spotting rare birds of prey.<\/p>\n

\"Winter<\/a>Helen Briggs Winter Hare Signed and Mounted Gicl\u00e9e Art Print<\/p>\n

Helen Briggs’ beautiful artwork captures British wildlife in all its seasonal glory \u2013 this special art print will bring a smile wherever it’s hung in the home.<\/p>\n

\"Bee<\/a>Lino Lord Bee Etched Enamel Mug<\/p>\n

Using time-honoured techniques, Lino Lord crafts its retro-inspired enamel mugs in its studio in Falmouth. This pretty bee mug can be enjoyed while working in the garden or even camping and hiking.<\/p>\n

\"Garden<\/a>Jina Gelder Illustration Garden Birds Canvas Lampshade<\/p>\n

From goldfinches to blue tits, this pretty lampshade will bring the best of an English summer garden indoors all year round.<\/p>\n

\"Mushroom<\/a>The Fae Potter Mushroom toadstool incense stick holder ceramic pottery<\/p>\n

Inspired by autumnal flora and fauna, from upturned fungi to golden oak leaves, The Fae Potter’s winsome pottery are sure to please nature devotees.<\/p>\n

\"Silver<\/a>Theodore and Olive Jewellery Silver Stag Charm Necklace<\/p>\n

One for the silver wearers, this stunning necklace subtly captures the majesty of the stag. The chain can be chosen at a length of your choice, and best of all, it comes in an elegant gift box with a pretty pouch to give to the lucky recipient.<\/p>\n

\"Winter<\/a>Helen Round Winter Fox Linen Aga Pad<\/p>\n

Available in three colours, Helen Round’s pretty linen AGA covers are embroidered with a cheeky fox running through the snow \u2013 protecting your cooker from scratching and wear while still looking country house chic.<\/p>\n

\"Cotswold<\/a>Liz Corley Art Cotswold Hare Linen Tote Bag<\/p>\n

This generously-sized tote bag is a pretty and practical gift for friends always on the go.<\/p>\n

\"Recycled<\/a>Undercover Recycled Leather Bugs Travel Set<\/p>\n

Presented together in a gift box, Undercover’s soft leather travel set will delight jet-setting family and friends. Available in an array of lovely colour combos, the leather is also entirely recycled for an eco-conscious choice.<\/p>\n

\"Back<\/a>little ram studio Back Garden Bats – Limited Edition – Original Linocut Print<\/p>\n

Hand printed with inks also blended by hand, Little Ram Studio’s captivating linocut prints look just as beautiful propped-up, unframed on a bookshelf as they do framed over a mantlepiece.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Cara is Commissioning Editor at Country Living, covering everything from style and interiors to sustainability, artisans and the great outdoors. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in Music from the University of Oxford. Follow Cara on Instagram @caralaskaris or Linkedin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"‘Tis the season to reflect on the best of the year that was, and architecture is no exception.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":326524,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[6225,6485,6486,11157,128040,1120,381,96,1156,128039,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-326523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-content-type-default","tag-contentid-e9438098-33a7-46f8-8307-d7218785807f","tag-design","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-3-lessons-from-ribas-house-of-the-year","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=326523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326523\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/326524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=326523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=326523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=326523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}