Housing & Architecture In Tiree
The visitor will be aware of the variety of houses on this lived-in island.
Tiree is the only Hebridean island blessed with so much rich machair land
and as as result croft houses have sprung up like mushrooms all over the
island.
The
traditional houses were of the "black house" type, known as Tigh Dubh, with
dry stone walls 5 ft. or more thick, rounded corners, a central fireplace
on which peat would be burnt, the smoke wending its way up through a hole
in the thatched roof which rested on the inner walls, dwellings ideally
designed for the gales to sweep over them. These have all disappeared on
Tiree, Tiree's peat shortage leading to the abandoning of central fires,
but Tigh Geal (white houses) with cemented stones, thatched, tarred or felted
roofs with a chimney at one or each end can still be seen on the island.
Most of them have been modernised with all "mod cons" and are as comfortable
and charming as many a modern building. Balemartine and Mannal have many
old houses and are well worth a visit.
Dotted about the island
you will see stone built. dormer-windowed "spotty houses" these were built
around the turn of the century with stone quarried on Tiree. It is the local
custom only to snowcem the mortar, leaving the stones uncovered.
Between
the two wars a period of shuttered concrete building began and many of Three's
houses date from this time. The old tarred roof family home is frequently
found alongside and may be used as an outhouse or a byre. Most of the houses
built up to this period will be found to face east as a protection from
the prevailing south west wind.
A
few modern bungalows have appeared but in comparison with the Outer Hebrides.
Tiree has preserved a very distinctive and progressive building pattern,
producing an island architecture which is right for the climate and very
pleasing to the eye.
It is worth mentioning that the islanders
built their houses at their own expense and those of us who live in one
know just how professionally this was done and how sturdy and cosy they
are.
Tiree’s “An Turas” a very contempory and perhaps controversial piece of architecture in Tiree Harbour.
“An Turas” was short listed for the Sterling Award in 2003
The locals have nicked named it “The Wind Tunnel”, it’s been built to give ferry passengers a refuge from the wind whilst waiting for the ferry. The entrance has no roof so if it's windy enough the rain gets blown right over the top of it, but at the end of the tunnel is an enclosed viewing room . If it’s not windy then the tunnel fills up with water and becomes a rather damp and very slippery place to be – interesting concept…
“An Turas” was designed by Sutherland Hussey Architects and commissioned by Tiree Art Enterprises (www.tireearts.org) in association with the Scottish Arts Council, Caledonian MacBrayne, Argyll & Bute Council and Edinburgh College of Art.
Photographs © Gavin Shaw