The Lochside House, in Scotland, is a magnificent building located near a lake, which adds up to its beauty. The lovely cottage has been named as the UK’s best house of 2018 and awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) House of the Year Prize. But the most aspect of the house is that it is highly sustainable.

It is designed by Haysom Ward Millar Architects as a home for a ceramic artist and was selected as one of the seven houses considered for the prize. The announcement was made during the final episode of the Channel 4 television series Grand Designs: House of the Year.

The house consists of three buildings and the whole house is crafted from natural materials that fit into the mesmerizing landscape in which the house is built.

The energy in the house is provided from sun and water is pulled up from a borehole. “It wasn’t straightforward,” said Tom Miller, the architect of Lochside House. “It was only possible because we had a client with the uncompromising determination and vision to keep pushing us to achieve our best, and a contractor’s team for whom we have enormous respect – they seemed to thrive on the unique challenges posed by building on such an exposed and inaccessible site.”

Many houses in Scotland are built without roof overhangs; traditionally they were built this way so that the roofs would not get ripped off in high winds.

“The buildings are tucked into a natural fold in the landscape, clad in burnt Scottish larch and protected by a traditional drystone wall. They appear almost camouflaged,” he said.

“Inside, the spaces merge with the artist owner’s art collection, and there is an overwhelming sense of comfort, warmth, and homeliness.” said the Chair of the RIBA Jury, Takero Shimazaki. “It’s an example of humble, grounded, contextual yet powerful architecture that people can aspire to and be inspired by.”

RIBA president Ben Derbyshire described the property as “truly breath-taking”, adding: “With a highly sustainable, off-grid approach to energy and water, it leaves the surrounding environment as undisturbed as possible. Every detail has been fine-tuned to create an exceptional home and studio.”

RIBA calls this house “a small-scale, sustainable home made from local materials.”

The house was chosen for RIBA House of the Year by a panel of judges made up of architects Takero Shimazaki, Niall Maxwell and Chantal Wilkinson, curator and journalist Laura Mark, and engineer Paul Rogatzki.

Have a sneak peek at the insides-