This contemporary house includes small inner courtayrds to make it more private and create a connection to outdoors

McGinlay Bell has completed a house in a leafy Glasgow suburb featuring a sequence of rooms arranged around compact courtyards that allow the natural surroundings to permeate indoors.

The narrow rectilinear site sandwiched between existing houses presented several challenges, as it borders the road at the front and is lined on one side by tall pine trees that form a distinct perimeter. The lack of a front garden prompted the architects to create a minimal brick wall defining the edge of the property, with space for car parking in front of a solid brick gable wall. The brick wall ensures a bedroom on the ground floor is hidden from the road. The master bedroom above has large windows looking out towards the trees.

For House in Bearsden’s exterior, the architects specified materials to complement existing properties on the street, as well as using vertical slatted timber to echo the natural surroundings. All of the bedrooms are contained within the two-storey brick volume towards the front of the site. The rest of the house is designed as an open-plan pavilion accommodating the main living areas alongside small pockets of outdoor space.

The single-storey pavilion contains a TV room facing the road, with the kitchen, dining area and living room located at the rear of the property. The courtyards slotted in between the living spaces are lined with full-height glazed walls and sliding doors. They function as extensions to the internal floor area that provide additional space for entertaining family and friends.

Walnut joinery including vanity dressers, a master closet and office desks are designed in direct response to the clients’ everyday needs and lifestyles. The walnut screens bring a sense of warmth to the interior and cleverly conceal storage, home entertainment, a cocktail bar and the stairs leading to the bedrooms.

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There’s a minimal brick wall that keeps some zones more private

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The brick facades are teamed with portions of vertically slatted timber

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The home’s main living areas are arranged within the adjoining pavilion

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The inner courtyard are like small pockets and extensions of indoor spaces at the same time

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The living spaces are filled with light through glazed walls and there are open layouts

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Wooden furnishings are teamed with polished concrete floors

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Bespoke walnut joinery features in the bedrooms

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Muted furnishings help retain focus on the building materials and views outside