Kyrrhus - Burra

Description: Private Residential Dwelling

Client: Mr & Mrs Cambillard

Services: Structural Engineering Design

Contractor: Shetland Construction & Developments Ltd.

Time Span: 2017 - 2019

Photo / Video: CASE Shetland / Stephen Mercer

A project undertaken with long term collaborator Alan McKay, CASE Shetland were tasked with delivering the Structural Engineering design which could make his bold architectural vision a reality.  The challenge was to ensure that the structure of the building maintained a low-key presence, so as not to interfere with the sleek visual aesthetic.  We had to overcome dual technical challenges posed by the open plan interior and extensive glazing.

The site boasts amazing views south down Clift Sound, but it had a significant slope to contend with and rocky ground conditions.  Combined with the usual shape of the building this made for a complex foundation design, with multiple steps in level.

One of the key shared ambitions of both the Client and the Architect was to make use of the stunning view via expansive window openings to the South Elevation. Our engineering input was invaluable in this regard, as the building had to retain sufficient lateral stiffness to withstand the severe wind loadings which occur during a winter gale.  If you’ve ever been in Shetland during January, you’ll understand!

Large windows are a fantastic addition, flooding the living room and kitchen with light and offering stunning panoramic views.  But the structural work required behind the scenes was tricky.  CASE Shetland had to work closely with NorDan, who were supplying the windows.  Their ‘off the shelf’ units of this size were not suitable to the high applied wind loadings – which would have caused them to flex and vibrate excessively.  To counteract this, we designed hidden steel fin plates. These neatly slotted into custom grooves, which were incorporated into the timber window frames during the off-site factory manufacture.

We also designed a slender two-storey steel frame, which wrapped around the corner glazing to provide the required stiffness.  This is completely invisible from inside the property, being tucked away within the kit wall panels.

This was one of our first projects and is still one of our favourites.  It was a pleasure working with a Client who had such a clear vision and the ambition to see it through without compromise.

I’ve enjoyed working with Ewen over the years - from his early career and throughout the development of CASE. His enthusiasm for design and ability to help realize practical, imaginative  and aesthetically pleasing structural solutions for the projects we’ve worked on together on has been a joy. The team they’ve put together in CASE have a wide range of complementary skills to call upon and I’ve always found them very helpful and pleasant to work with.

Alan McKay, Architect