The concept for a roadside motel in the Pass of the Drumochter in central Scotland is a project by Dominika Cieplak, an architecture student at the Cracow University of Technology. The author, who is a great lover of Scotland's landscape and culture, sought to create a place that blends in with its surroundings, with ecological and modern solutions. Characteristic of the design is the use of corten and inspiration from the historic railroad and the archetype of Scottish houses.
The design of the Druim Uachdair Motel was carried out as an engineering thesis under the direction of Dr. Piotr Winskowski.
The roadside motel was designed in the Scottish Pass of Drumochter
© Dominika Cieplak
The rapid development of civilization and constant spatial changes make people increasingly turn to nature. She is one who for years has been governed by elaborate rules that preserve order in a world full of uncertainty. Christopher Alexander writes that "people have a need to belong to a recognizable spatial unit," and so they feel much safer in an environment that has a clear and familiar layout for them, but also one with established landmarks in its structure. Designing in a hitherto untouched landscape requires extreme sensitivity and caution. For it is difficult to find the golden mean between architecture that serves modern people and respect for wild nature. The concept of a roadside motel in the Pass of Drumochter (literally "high ridge") in the central part of Scotland attempts to combine these two aspects into an object that is inscribed in its surroundings and gives it additional value, while protecting nature, introduces Dominika Cieplak in her project.
The motel could be built between the historic railroad and the A9 route
© Dominika Cieplak
A place at the intersection of mountain paths
Before the author began her design work, she made a resultant analysis of the site - from the terrain conditions, to the local architecture, to the culture and traditions of the Scottish mountain people. This set the course of action. For the location of the motel, the student chose a site between the parallel - the historic railroad and the A9 route connecting Edinburgh and Iverness. The routes are at the intersection of the mountain path to the summit of the Boar of Badenoch and the UK's longest straight-line path through the Creagan Doire Dhonaich mountain. The area is dotted with moors that, along with the hills, create, the distinctive purple and rust color palette of the place.
These colors, combined with the archetype of the Scottish house - blackhouse [gael. t(a)igh-dubh], literally "black house" - became the rationale for the choice of materials in the designed motel. This approach is in line with the idea of architecture of contemporary regionalism, which emphasizes harmony between the environment and the designed building, the author adds.
The building may be associated with the carriages of an old mountain railroad
© Dominika Cieplak
corten boxes
Thestone block, hammered into the hillside, is the blueprint for the concept and forms the basis for the repeating corten boxes, which can be associated with the cars of an old, rusty mountain railroad. Their arrangement opens up views of the mountains and relates to the distance between the Scottish houses. At the same time, it does not obscure the panorama from the main road, from where it is visible as a set of single-story buildings connected by a glass link. It also houses a viewing terrace with a bonfire to symbolize the Scottish community.
Fire-burning rituals are an integral part of Scottish tradition. They are burned on the days of the summer and winter solstices to make the year bountiful in crops and good for people and animals. Bonfires are also associated with the beliefs of the ancient Celts, who believed in fairies and witches dancing around the hearth, Dominica says.
The motel has an observation deck and a tower
© Dominika Cieplak
reference to the historic railroad
The structure of the building is linked to its surroundings - the steel, lightweight skeleton of the first floor refers to the historic railroad. At the same time, the trusses allow for large spans, while remaining a transparent structure that does not obstruct the view. The tower, as a counterpoint to the long but low building, is a landmark and a kind of motel landmark. The steel skeleton contrasts with the strong reinforced concrete structure of the underground floors. The concrete, according to the author, which is a contemporary stone, refers to Scottish houses. The rooms open onto the pass, and are separated from the noise and oriented toward the landscape.
Part of the building is underground
© Dominika Cieplak
The design challenge was the motel's infrastructure, related to the need to pave a large area, which in a rainy climate could lead to permanent flooding. To prevent this, the student decided to use permeable paving made of gravel and local natural stone. Parking lots were hidden among the greenery, and paths were interspersed with rectangular gardens of heather and herbs. The facility has also been equipped with tanks for rainwater, filtered and reused in toilets and technical areas.
The corten color will allow the building to blend into the landscape
© Dominika Cieplak
the passage of time
The author chose corten sheet not only for its shade and high weather resistance, but especially for its ability to transform with the passage of time. The main goal of the project was for the building to blend in with the landscape.
The theme of aging, which brings to mind mostly negative examples, here is broken by the intentional pursuit of transience, which is inherent in human and natural life. The rusty sheet metal changes color over time depending on the prevailing humidity, the stone base becomes overgrown with moss, and in the consciousness of locals and tourists the motel building takes root as if it has always belonged to the landscape of the pass," Dominika Cieplak concludes.
