The fan house is a project to transform the home of  long-standing collaborator Archispek’s founder and director, bringing contemporary design and functional family living to a 1930s semi-detached property. The four-bedroom house has been revitalised through strategic and creative dilatation, combining practicality with modern aesthetics. 

At the heart of this transformation is a slanting wraparound extension that reorganises the floorplan of the house and incorporates large windows to draw light into previously gloomy spaces. This extension is a testament to both the client’s personality and professional flair, and his close working relationship with Loader Monteith, harmoniously integrating with the original structure while expanding the home’s footprint.

The living room extension, positioned three steps lower than the original part of the house, boasts a higher ceiling to the original space and Douglas fir beams that fan out gently. This enhances the spatial experience, creating an open and airy atmosphere, connecting the indoors with the outdoors through a huge floor to ceiling window and sliding patio door overlooking the back garden. This sunroom-like space, with its unusual shape dictated by the triangular-wedged shaped site, provides a tranquil retreat that connects to the garden, enhancing the home’s connection to nature.

The kitchen, designed and built by Archispek, is a standout feature of the renovation. Once the living room, this space now serves as the new heart of the home, linking the extension and new living room through the dining room. The kitchen’s oak veneer cabinetry in the dining area cleverly conceals laundry facilities and a bar, while an old fireplace, now boxed in behind durable oak paneling, adds a touch of historical charm to the modern setting. The new open plan layout fosters family togetherness, allowing for more shared moments in a bright, airy space enriched with warm textures. 

The dining area features fitted cabinet seating, crafted from offcuts from the Archispek workshop. This circular design principle underscores Loader Monteith’s commitment to sustainability, utilising unused materials from other projects to create beautiful, functional elements within the home.

Externally, the monolithic grey extension blends with the dark grey skies of North Berwick, while the interior radiates warmth and light. The transformation of the arrival experience, with new entryways at both the front and rear, adds to the home’s allure, making a striking first impression that hints at the surprises within.

Loader Monteith’s renovation of the house demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a dated property into a modern and practical home, celebrating both the heritage and the future of the space.