MCK Construction restored the 120-year old Usan Coastguard Tower in Scotland, resurrecting a local landmark abandoned some 60 years ago.
The company rose to the challenge of renovating the property as a modern home and worked closely with the planning department to ensure the refurbishment works retained as much of the building’s original character as possible.
Situated on the North Sea coast, the tower sits in a remote location with no road serving the site, which meant all materials and access had to be delivered via a temporary access through part of a neighbouring farmer's field. The existing tower still featured the original Welsh slated roof with a lead finial, the lookout balcony had largely rotted away and, being so close to the sea, the stonework had to be repointed and given a general makeover.
The new extension consists of a timber frame structure with large gable glazing, maintenance-free cement cladding and a zinc standing-seam roof covering. The joint between the new roof covering and the old stonework denotes where new joins old, and a zinc-clad projecting bay window to the first floor bedroom and a similar feature in the lounge give residents a panoramic view over the rocky shoreline and the continually changing faces of the North Sea.
This is a spectacular build requiring great skills to transform the dilapidated property into a modern family home with stunning views of the coastline.
