- Project: Arbor House
- Architect: Brown & Brown Architects
- Location: United Kingdom, Aberdeen
- Year: 2022
- Area: 274 m2
- Photography: Jim Stephenson
A Quiet Retreat Re-imagined
Set in a mature suburban plot in the west end of Aberdeen, Arbor House by Brown & Brown Architects is a highly refined response to the challenge of creating a calm, private home in an urban-adjacent context. Rather than imposing a large volume on the site, the design subtly embeds itself into a gentle slope at the northern edge — thereby reducing noise from the nearby busy road and orienting the main glazed elevations toward southern light and leafy garden views.
Site Strategy & Architectural Organisation
The original stone steading that occupied the length of the plot was largely de-constructed. Most of the masonry was carefully reclaimed and repurposed within a sweeping boundary wall at street level; one original stone wall remains in situ and becomes part of a colonnade leading into the garden. This retained element both honours the site’s history and gives the new building a rooted sense of place.
From the street, the house appears discreet — a low, timber-clad volume set behind the stone wall and colonnade. As one passes through the covered entrance, the architecture opens into the garden, and the view through to the double-height atrium and deep glazing reveals a generous, elevated interior. The main living spaces face south, with floor-to-ceiling glazing unlocking the connection to the garden, while the upper floor contains the private bedrooms. The layout also anticipates future adaptability for independent or multigenerational living.
Materiality, Craft & Atmosphere
Arbor House is characterised by a restrained material palette employed with exceptional craft. The exterior facade is clad in vertical larch battens which will age into a silver-grey patina and blend softly with the garden trees. Structural and enveloping elements make use of board-marked concrete—both outside and inside—bringing raw texture, solidity and subtle elegance. Internally, the floors are micro-cement, joinery is birch plywood and a sculptural spiral staircase becomes a focal point in the atrium. The marriage of concrete, timber and glass produces a spatial calm tempered by warmth, refinement and natural daylight.
Sustainability & Performance
Sustainability is integral to the project, not an afterthought. The building envelope is heavily insulated and airtight. Its orientation and glazing allow passive solar gain in winter, while cross-ventilation and shading handle summer months. A ground-source heat pump together with mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) ensure low operational energy. The reuse of the existing wall and masonry reduces embodied carbon and connects the building to its site history.
Why This Project Matters
Arbor House stands out for its subtle intelligence and integration—both to site and context. In contrast to architecture that seeks to dominate its setting, this house privileges quiet presence, spatial richness and material tactility. It demonstrates how high-quality residential architecture in a suburban setting can deliver both privacy and connection, and both luxury and restraint. It also shows how existing fabric doesn’t have to be eradicated in favour of pure newness, but rather reinterpreted and incorporated.
For architects and clients alike, the project offers a compelling model for modern suburban living: embed the building gently, choose materials that endure, organise space for movement and connection, and invest in performance. The result is not flashy—it doesn’t need to shout—but it quietly achieves clarity, comfort and elegance.
Final Reflection
Arbor House by Brown & Brown Architects is a fine example of thoughtful residential architecture in a suburban UK context. It combines craftsmanship, material authenticity, and environmental sensitivity into a home that feels both calm and living. For anyone interested in architecture that balances contemporary living with contextual respect, this project is a compelling reference.
