Delighted to be taking part in the CPD platform provided by @learnformula this week.
Tomorrow at 12pm BST I’ll be talking about sustainability, and the value sustainable design adds not only to architecture, but to individuals and communities too.
If you’re an architect or other construction professional interested in sustainability and looking for CPD, head over to the platform tomorrow to watch the webinar live!
#cpd
#sustainability
#passivhaus
#lowcarbon
One of the best parts of nearing the end of a project is seeing clients start to make the space their own.
The furniture arrives, artwork goes up, little personal touches appear - and the house finally starts to feel like a home.
It’s always rewarding to see the building come to life in this way.
#lowenergyhouse
#rurallife
#stone
#timber
#paperigloo
Great to be back in the Scottish Highlands for a snagging visit to this deep retrofit and extension project.
The house feels fantastic - comfortable, calm, and performing just as intended. And the clients are already seeing significant savings on their energy bills!
Looking forward to sharing professional photos soon, and to digging into the performance data after a few seasons of use.
#comfort
#naturalmaterials
#goodair
#lowcarbon
#paperigloo
It’s hard to believe how far this space has come. Although not quite finished, it’s close enough that you can really start to feel how it will be lived in.
What began as a carefully considered, naturally insulated timber frame structure is now turning into something much more tangible: a calm, warm, light-filled home - healthy and comfortable throughout the year.
We’re looking forward to the final stages, and to seeing our clients settle into their new low-energy, comfortable passivhaus home in the months ahead.
Timber Frame: @eden_insulation
Engineering: @narroassociates
Brick core: @kenoteq
#naturalmaterials
#woodfibre
#timberframe
#passivhaus
#paperigloo
One of the most exciting stages on site!
This week at our coach house conversion, things are really coming to life - the Diathonite (lime & cork) insulating plaster is taking shape, and we’ve hit a major milestone with the installation of the Velfac doors and windows.
The material palette is starting to come into its own: olive green frames set beautifully against the existing sandstone, paired with anthracite for the two units within the dark grey clad extension.
It’s always a great moment when everything begins to come together!
Works by @skjoiners15
Windows & doors by @velfacwindows
Rooflights by @fakrogb
Diathonite by @ecologicalbuildingsystems
Greencoat works by JM Roofing
#lowcarbon
#deepretrofit
#naturalmaterials
#lime
#stone
We’re incredibly proud to share that Ostro Passivhaus has been featured in the new Taschen book ‘Homes for Our Time. Sustainable Living.’
🌿🏡
Designed with performance, comfort, and the environment at its heart, Ostro Passivhaus represents what we believe homes of the future should be - beautiful, resilient, and deeply connected to sustainable living. Being included among such inspiring projects from around the world is a real honour.
Thank you to @taschen for celebrating architecture that pushes toward a more sustainable future. And thanks to our photographer @davidbarbour for bringing everything to life.
We’re delighted to see our home included in this wonderful book alongside such amazing architects whose work we’ve long admired - @bakerbrown_studio@mcleanquinlan@hayhurstandco and
@niallmclaughlinarchitects to name but a few.
We’d highly recommend the publication for anyone interested in seeing the diversity and breadth of sustainable architecture around the world.
#ostropassivhaus
#sustainableliving
#passivhaus
#homesforourtime
#architecture
How do you deeply retrofit a 150-year-old Highland cottage without losing its character?
This view shows the transitional space - a threshold between old and new.
Soft top light washes down between the buildings, emphasising the contrast between the crisp geometry of the extension and the textured stone of the original cottage.
The existing rubble-filled sandstone walls will be insulated internally using Calsitherm, Diathonite and lime plaster - capillary-active, vapour-permeable materials that will keep the home warm, as well as dry and draught free.
The new extension will be fully timber-frame, insulated with natural wood-fibre. Creating a warmer, lower-energy home while respecting the original building.
We’ve just submitted planning for this EnerPHit project and are looking forward to it progressing to the next stage.
#enerphit
#stone
#timber
#naturalmaterials
#paperigloo
Planning permission secured this week for another new build Passivhaus - but this time in a Conservation Area.
The design takes a modern approach to traditional forms and materials: familiar rooflines, carefully considered proportions, and a restrained, robust materials palette that reflects the local vernacular without mimicking it.
The ambition has always been to create a building that feels settled and natural in its setting, while delivering the performance and comfort standards of a certified Passivhaus.
#passivhaus
#planningpermission
#conservationarea
#lowenergyhouse
#paperigloo
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Busy start to the year on our Stirling project! 🛠️
Here’s a sneak peek at what we’ve been up to — this job will be stunning when complete.
📐 Architects: Paperigloo
Next up: windows, Diathonite insulation, Greencoat, and internal timber kit.
#Renovate #Sandstone #PolishedConcrete #TimberRoof #glasgowbuilders
A few years ago, we completed a deep retrofit and extension of this existing home. What began as a much-loved but underperforming house became an opportunity to rethink how it could work from the ground up - for the people living there and for the environment.
Through thoughtful renovation and the use of natural insulation materials, the home now uses c.73% less energy - all while feeling warmer, calmer, and more connected to its surroundings.
For us, retrofit is about more than efficiency figures - it’s about care. Care for existing buildings, for the resources we use, and for the everyday experience of home. And the belief that often the most sustainable building is the one that’s already there.
More on the story behind Lucēre via the link in bio.
#deepretrofit
#hometransformation
#sustainableliving
#lowenergy
#paperigloo
We recently had the pleasure of delivering two talks on behalf of our practice, sharing the story behind one of our award-winning projects, Abhainn, and then reflecting on the values and ethos that shape our work.
It’s always a privilege to step back and talk not just about what we design, but why we design the way we do - the relationships, the context, the responsibility, and the belief that thoughtful architecture can genuinely improve everyday life.
We are grateful to everyone who invited us to speak - so thank you @glasgowinstituteofarchitects & @nysarchitects - and to the collaborators, clients, and team members who make the work possible.
These moments are a reminder that great buildings are never created alone!
Looking forward to the conversations still to come.
#architecture
#practicevalues
#designthinking
#sustainability
#paperigloo
SUSTAINABILITY TALKS AND TOURS 01_ 2026_ABHAINN – SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN A CONNECTED COMMUNITY
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
6:00 PM 8:00 PM
BDP Glasgow Offices, 72 Gordon Street.
Join the GIA for our first Sustainability Talk of 2026 presented by award winning practice - Paper Igloo.
The GIA Sustainability committee is excited to kick start our recurring and successful Talks and Tours programme 2026. Our first talk will be presented by Mhairi Grant, of Paper Igloo, who recently received a GIA Sustainability Award for their project Abhainn.
Evening Format:
Mhairi Grant of Paper Igloo – Architect and Passivhaus Designer for Abhainn – will present a short summary of the project, and then there will be a panel discussion and the opportunity to ask questions of her, her colleague Martin McCrae, and their client, Denise Bryson of Avongreen Abodes.
The event is being kindly hosted by BDP Architects, Glasgow office. Please come along for lively discussion with refreshments provided.
Project Background:
Abhainn is sustainable living in a connected community. A rare collection of three contemporary, low-energy homes nestled within a larger urban area, Abhainn provides a peaceful retreat from bustling city life.
Begun in 2014, this project was a true labour of love for this family developer client. Between planning obstacles, access and service restrictions, and Covid lockdowns, there was a lot to navigate. And it was their first construction project.
Designed as a cohesive family of certified Passivhaus dwellings on a Brownfield site, and delivered on a low budget, the project prioritises the highest standards of sustainability, energy efficiency and comfort. This project is more than an exemplar in sustainable architecture – it demonstrates that environmentally responsible design can be poetic, inspiring, and transformative. 🎟️Tickets via GIA website / Eventbrite.
