Garden Bothy

The Garden Bothy is one of those projects that has continually evolved and will do so throughout the building process. It was an idea initially pitched by my stepmother for our family home and garden, a plan that we have discussed at length and are now putting into action, though on a gradual timeline. New land has been acquired, and new possibilities are opening up on the site, but the bothy's function has remained steadfast. My family spends a lot of time in their extensive garden, and when the weather is good in Scotland, we make the most of it, often hardly returning back up the hill to the house. The bothy will be our base in the garden, away from the main building, nestled into a bank in the orchard with the sound of the river and the buzz of bees as its backdrop. It should be a place to share meals, eat and cook outdoors, sit by a fire and enjoy the summer evenings. It should also accommodate guests, serve as a teenage hangout / sleepover spot, and function as a writing and reading den. The small building will be resilient to the outside climate; the materials will require little maintenance and should allow nature to develop a patina on them. Slowly, the garden bothy will blend pragmatically into its landscape, while its interior will be warm, homely, and inviting, even on cold winter nights or dull, rainy afternoons.

The bothy's retaining walls and foundation have now been placed, and I look forward to continuing this project when I return to Scotland in early 2026.