Fasque: Rural Housing

SLR's Place team were commissioned to progress and refine proposals for a new place within Fasque House Estate (FHE) in Aberdeenshire. The immediate focus was on designing a distinctive and deliverable new place which complements and supports the ongoing and highly successful restoration of the castle and key surrounding buildings, structures and landscape. The completed works to date have set the highest standard and clearly show to all the aspirations and direction of Fasque House Estate.

The spectacular setting offers a unique opportunity for the creation of a new village within a beautiful historic designed landscape. SLR secured detail planning consent for 74 new build houses, plus a series of conversions and renovations to existing buildings including uses for holiday accommodation, leisure, retail (farm shop), restaurant and equestrian facilities. The intention with the proposed buildings is to create a series of dwellings and supporting facilities that make meaningful connections to each other, the estate setting, the landscape beyond and are inspired by the vernacular of nearby settlements, thereby collectively instilling the essence of a new community and village.

Continuing the unique approach to each development pocket of the overall Fasque Estate, SLR progressed designs for a distinctive neighbourhood of individual houses set around a central park arranged along the existing ridge. The park provides an attractive and meaningful space between the two proposed areas of housing and links to the wider path network around the Estate.

SLR designed a suite of bespoke split-level detached houses which respond to the unique setting. The placement of the houses in relation to one another was carefully considered with units arranged to run alternately parallel or transverse with the slope to further maximise privacy and breathing space between properties.