Winner of the Scottish Rural Innovators award for Housing, 2016, and the SURF Sustainability award for Housing in 2017. Shortlisted for the Structural Timber Awards in the Social Housing Project of the Year category, 2018.

In 2010, the community was under threat of losing its Primary School and Community Centre due to population decline caused by a lack of affordable housing options. This project, a joint venture between the Ulva School Community Association (USCA) and Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT), sought to sustain the community by providing two three-bedroom rental homes, giving priority to young families.

Our aim was to create modern, comfortable, and bright affordable family housing, with low heating bills to combat fuel poverty and thermally robust construction to prevent dampness and mould in the high humidity location. We used cross-laminated timber construction for its quick construction time, thermal performance, and airtight, thermal bridge-free detailing. These houses were built to passive house standard and have a heat recovery and ventilation system.

The houses are ‘Silver’ certified by the Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) and are featured in Issue 23 of Passive House Plus Magazine.

Photography: Johnny Barrington