This Minimalist Gable Home in the Scottish Highlands Is an Exemplar of Compromise

A single window seldom steals the show of an architectural project, but very few share a view like the one in the living area of Neil and Laura Stephens’ home, Taigh Créadha, in the village of Achnacloich. The roughly ten-by-six-foot window on the gable end of the softly-hued minimalist home looks out over Scotland’s rugged Isle of Skye coast and out to the Cuillin mountain range.

The architect couple, who both work at Dualchas, the Skye-based practice that Neil founded with his twin, Alasdair, had spotted the land for sale back in 2014. Neil had been looking at the property for one of their clients, but Laura suggested they purchase it themselves for their own family home. "I said it was too expensive, but Laura said we’d find a way," says Neil. "It took a while to sell our other property and get the planning agreement, but we finished the building in 2022. We’re still completing the landscaping and some work outside."