The Beach
Achmelvich Beach is one of the glories of Scotland’s far north-west cost, with its white sands, turquoise sea and backdrop of Assynt’s jaggedy, dragon-backed peaks.
Such popularity has brought considerable visitor pressures and the local Assynt Development Trust has stepped forward to take the lead and collaborate with Highland Council to improve and extend the car park and provide a Beach Hub, with toilets, showers, charging points and a Ranger’s Hut.
CLIENT / Assynt Development Trust
ARCHITECT / Fraser/Livingstone Architects
DELIVERY / Highland Council Architects
CONTRACTORS / Simpsons (Builders) Limited
FLA TEAM / Ayla Riome, Andrew Dennison, Malcolm Fraser, Robin Livingstone
Invited Competition
FLA won an invited competition and designed a pair of timber pavilions, on a terrace overlooking the beach, machair and car park, which we proposed to be constructed in exposed, "brut" dowel-laminated-timber, with screened loggias and overhanging turfed roofs.
DLT is the simplest mass-timber technology with baulks of timber secured by a hardwood dowel which, taking-on moisture, expands and locks panels of timber that can be low-grade, fast growing – perfect for locally-grown Scottish timber.
Design Delivery
Thedesign was delivered by The Highland Council completing in 2024, with The Ranger's Hut omitted and the construction of the pavilion's walls changed to masonry with framed timber roof and screens. These changes retain the principles of the design; a robust Pavillion structure surrounded by light timber screens and protected from the elements by an oversailing green roof.
