The Island Arthouse was the final project on the three-year B.Arch course at the Glasgow School of Art, and as such was designed to test our technical and creative abilities. The Arthouse was to provide accommodation and workspaces for up to 7 resident artists on the remote island of Bute off the West Coast of Scotland, and was to be an entirely off-grid and self-sustaining building, in order to preserve and protect its natural surroundings.
Using Philippe Rahm's study into 'convective apartments' as a starting point, my strategy was to make use of the natural rise of warm air in the organisation of spaces within the arthouse. The necessarily cooler bedroom areas were located on the lowest floor, with the heat-generating areas of the studio and kitchen above. On the top floor was the lounge and social areas, which would be warmed throughout the day by the upward movement of warm air generated by sunlight and daily activity.
