The Moorings by Fearnan  

Project: The Moorings by Fearnan 

Location: Perthshire, Loch Tay 

Completion date: 2024  

Scale: Basement including garage – 276 m2. Ground – 287.90m2.  First – 201m2.  

Services: Creative concept direction; architecture; interior architecture; exterior architecture. Tender and overall project management through to completion including contract administration.

Summary: 

MSA Architects was entrusted to renovate The Moorings, an existing private residence overlooking Loch Tay, with an objective to maximise the views of the loch and seamlessly integrate the building with its breathtaking surrounding environment.   

The challenge  

This extensive refurbishment required a complete remodelling of an outdated property into a state-of-the-art, modern home that complemented its stunning natural surroundings.  

Although located in a truly stunning south-facing, Lochside location the existing building was an amalgamation of styles both internally and externally. The finishing materials used in the original construction were relatively poor and mixed styles and the quality of the insulated fabric was substandard compared to current Scottish Build Regulations requirements,  

Following the development of the initial concepts, there was an initial concern that demolition and replacement would be the more logical way forward in terms of design opportunities, plus time and cost.  

Ahead of a final decision on this MSA arranged for a detailed investigation including the opening of various parts of the primary structure to better understand the ‘skeleton’ underneath the existing external and internal finishes. This proved that the basic structural elements (walls, floors, roof and retaining structures) were very robustly constructed. This gave MSA a terrifically base to work from and it permitted large structural interventions to be relatively easily developed without significant concerns – thanks to the talents of the structural engineers!  

Limited access to the site presented a challenge for the project, with all deliveries having to be brought in small batches. Without the possibility of using a crane, creative thinking and strategic planning saw the team increase the section size of the steel, allowing for bolted assembly of large beams essential for realising the ambitious design. 

Design & execution: 

The renovation, which was completed in Summer 2024, involved a substantial investment of (reserved matter) and almost 3 years of dedicated work. MSA Architects focused on: 

• Modern integration: MSA Architects transformed an outdated property into a state-of-the-art, modern home that complemented its stunning natural surroundings.  

• Integration with nature: The vision was to remove any barriers between the indoor and outside spaces to seamlessly blend the live-in building with the breathtaking Scottish environment. The garden walls on the lower ground floor were removed to enhance views of the loch from the primary windows, with a complete refurbishment of the pier extending to Loch Tay for improved access.   

• Sustainability: The Moorings project necessitated a complete reworking of the building’s insulation and heating systems to minimise its environmental impact. MSA addressed this with Solar PV, the introduction of heat pumps, and a whole-house ventilation and heat recovery system together with triple-glazing. In addition, the existing ‘loose’ insulation was removed and replaced where possible. The embedded existing insulation was retained and supplemented throughout.  These measures saw the residence surpass environmental building requirements. 

• Wellbeing: Wellbeing was central to the design, with natural lighting, breathtaking views of the loch and open space prioritised to induce feelings of calm and tranquillity.  

Robert Johnston, Lead Architect on The Mooring project, said: 

“This was an ambitious design project and one that has been incredibly rewarding to realise. The property has been completely transformed with extensive glass panelling to enhance views of the surroundings and a natural pathway which connects the property to the loch. Without the support, faith, patience and willingness of our clients to grasp the initial concepts, the significant remodelling would never have been realised. This is a rare project and one we loved working on to secure the vision for our clients”.