A Commonty of Conservation
A design for a workshop and accommodation in the heart of Fort William and Lochaber. Working on the deep retrofit of an existing building, preserving basic form and structure whilst developing a new programme which creates an ecology of community reuse, conservation and repair focused on abandoned rural buildings across Lochaber, going beyond extraction to create cycles of appreciation and interaction between tourists and locals.
A building which celebrates the new and embraces the old, where the structure maintains a physical presence and is highlighted to create unique spatial arrangements, acting as the primary resident of the new spaces at a variety of scales. Spaces open for moments of collaboration and mixed use, and close for moments of safety, peace and reflection.