My Modern House: Seamus Shanks and Lucy Day reflect on how their modernist holiday home in the Scottish Highlands has improved their quality of life
For most Londoners with a second home, the Friday evening drive out of the capital hopefully ends in time for a late dinner in a place not far beyond the reaches of the home counties – the just-far-away-enough-yet-easy-to-get-to appeals of Wiltshire, Norfolk and Suffolk are popular. For Seamus Shanks and Lucy Day, a long weekend at their modernist holiday home in the Scottish Highlands starts with a through-the-night drive of 500 miles.
When they arrive, however, at 4am, like they had when we went to visit them recently, their efforts are rewarded by the sight of architect Stuart Renton’s 1960s modernist masterpiece, perched on a raised mound overlooking the flat expanse of Loch Rannoch, and onwards to the rolling mountains of the West Highlands. It is, quite simply, a house, and a view, worth driving for.
Here, Seamus, who heads up Draw Architecture, and interior designer Lucy Day reflect on how they came to own Grianan (the name of the house), how it has improved their quality of life and why they see owning a second home outside London as an investment in their future.
Seamus: “We knew we had to have it as soon as we left for the first time – there was no question.”
Lucy: “We were at a wedding, staying not far from here and, actually, we spent a lot of time in Scotland even before we bought this place. Seamus went to university here, so he’s very fond of it, and I love it too.
“As we often do, we were flicking through Rightmove, and I was looking at these huge estates going for what seemed like next-to-nothing. Then we spotted this place out of nowhere and, to be honest, I thought it was a bit of an eyesore at first.”
Seamus: “She really turned her nose up!”
Lucy: “It was a lot do with the interiors, which didn’t match the 1960s architectural fabric at all and just overwhelmed the space. But then we came here and I realised there was so much more to it, and a lot that could be done to restore it. Our minds were made up within a second of walking in and we didn’t stop thinking about it.
“Something we always thought when buying this place – and still think today – is that it’s not about its monetary value, but the value it is going to add to our lives, the memories we will build here and the joy it would bring for the children we’ll have one day.”
Seamus: “It was such an emotive decision, driven by an almost physical draw to the house. When we viewed it, I had already envisioned myself retiring here, sitting in that seat with a book looking out over the loch. Once you’ve imagined an idea like that, I think it talks to you and becomes very compelling.
“We put an offer in but got outbid and were told we weren’t going to get it. I’ve never felt so gutted in all my life than after that phone call. At that point, most people would probably think, ‘Fine, it was going to be a lot of stress anyway,’ but I felt like I’d really lost out on something special. Not as something to own as an item, but something special for our lives.
“A couple of months later I was at my office when I got a phone call from the agent, saying the buyers had upset the seller somehow, and asking if I still wanted to go ahead. I said yes, and then felt elated and terrified because it was real, and we had to make it happen.”
Lucy: “The house was originally commissioned by a Danish family as their holiday home, designed by architect Stuart Renton. The Scandinavian influence here is felt in the timber panelling on the ceilings, the honest use of materials and the connection to nature.
“We wanted our renovation to be very clean-lined, contemporary and befitting of the calming environment here. We’re quite eclectic in our style and interiors in our period home in London but here, because it’s so peaceful in every respect, we didn’t want to do anything that would distract or detract from that, which led us to be very subtle with the interiors. I think that sometimes you just walk into a space and, regardless of your personal style, you get a feeling for what’s right.”
Seamus: “We knew what the architect wanted because we had his original annotated drawings. This building has all the values of what modernist architecture is about, but it wasn’t just designed as a contemporary form. It works with the site, with every window strategically placed; the external areas being shielded from the prevailing winds and, environmentally, it retains heat very well.
“It’s a piece of architecture that takes all the values from that period to create, well, it’s a masterpiece, isn’t it? What we wanted was something that simply respected the ideologies of the man who once designed it, simple as that. It was never about trying to create something unique or making grand architectural gestures.
“As an architect, I felt duty-bound in some way to leave a mark on this place. I don’t mean that egotistically – I don’t mean my mark – I just wanted to leave it in a better state than we found it.
“We’ve stayed true to the original style but the level of materials available now and modern building technology meant that, internally, the house is a lot more clean-lined than it ever has been and, although it’s never going to happen because he passed away, I would have loved to have had a conversation with the architect to see what he thinks about the restoration.
“Looking to the future, there will come a point when we’re no longer here and if in 100 years’ time somebody can walk into this space and it still operates and is appreciated for what it is then I’ve fulfilled what I set out to do.”
Lucy: “For now, we’re coming up here as much as possible. We’ve had so many friends to stay, who love to go hiking or out on the loch in one of the kayaks. We tried to have a big New Year’s party up here but it’s so tranquil that we didn’t manage it – I think we just had a nice bottle of red and called it a night!
“I’m sure if this house was anywhere else we’d be out finding the local pub and weekends up here would be a big jolly but it’s such a zen space that, actually, when we come up here with friends we just want to chill out and connect with the environment.”
Seamus: “Yes, forget the building for a second, ultimately it’s so much less about the house and more about the actual site itself – the architecture just captures that. I don’t think there is a single person out there who wouldn’t be able to connect with the natural environment here.
“There’s a primitive, back-to-basics feeling here, that study after study is proving has a positive effect on our wellbeing. So, yes, living here is incredibly good for the soul, but it also makes you realise we’re not just here to observe the natural world: we’re part of a larger ecosystem and being connected to nature in that way makes you think twice about our impact on it.”
Lucy: “Because there is no phone signal here, we don’t have a choice but to completely switch off from everyday life in London. That’s great for us now, but, looking ahead to when we have children, I’m so glad we’ll have somewhere to spend quality time as a family, without technology getting in the way.”
Seamus: “It was really wonderful to come up here with my own dad because the time we spent here together was, for me, like being a child again. We spent the whole weekend outside, chopping wood, making things and talking.
“So, having this house has already given us so much and, as we said, we feel like we’ve made an emotional investment in something that will go on giving us so much value.”
Seamus and Lucy, how do you define modern living?
Seamus: “The rise of open-plan was a huge step in modern living and I think that symbolises the way we live today. People are sociable creatures, we like to live together, and having a space at the heart of a home where everyone can be at the same time regardless as to whether they are cooking, eating or relaxing is fundamental to this.”
“Private spaces are of course always important as well but, in a word, I would define modern living as ‘together’.”
Is there a home for sale on our website that has caught your eye?
Lucy: “We were gutted to miss out on Pobble House in Dungeness.”
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