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Houzz Tour: Ecofriendly 'Glamping' Dome in Scotland
An all-weather exterior, modern furnishings and luxurious amenities create a vacation home that blends in with nature
This vacation house, a cocoon nestled in a birch forest on the edge of a small cliff in Scotland, is visible only from the sea. Outside its dome membrane are panoramic views of the Sound of Lorne and Castle Stalker, made famous by Monty Python and the Holy Grail — views best enjoyed from the outdoor hot tub. Inside, "you feel like you're really part of the surroundings instead of imposing on your surroundings," says homeowner Jim Milligan. "It's like the dome has been there forever, just like the trees."
The homeowners open their dome to vacationers who want a taste of the "glamping" (glam camping) experience as well.
Houzz at a Glance
A vacation home for: Jim Milligan and Nicola Meekin
Location: Oban, Scotland
Size: 807 square feet
That's interesting: The dome overlooks the famous Castle Stalker, more commonly known as "Castle Aaargh" in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
The homeowners open their dome to vacationers who want a taste of the "glamping" (glam camping) experience as well.
Houzz at a Glance
A vacation home for: Jim Milligan and Nicola Meekin
Location: Oban, Scotland
Size: 807 square feet
That's interesting: The dome overlooks the famous Castle Stalker, more commonly known as "Castle Aaargh" in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
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The structure is held together with steel struts and a single membrane of recycled PVC that has an average life span of at least 25 years.
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| Ceiling fans and windows ensure that the the dome is cool at all times, especially easy in these parts of temperate western Scotland. Most of the membrane's parts have an opaque finish and are UV resistant. |
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The freestanding kitchen is anchored by modular pieces: a low-energy pyrolitic oven that's flush on the laminate surface, a chopping board and a sink. There's even room for a small oven, a dish rack and cabinets. Groceries are delivered to the site every week.
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| The homeowners are creative with kitchen storage: An overhead pan rack eliminates the need for below-counter cabinet space, and a small mobile island can be wheeled around to suit their needs. A pair of pendant lights adds interest and task lighting to the modular kitchen in case the natural light coming in from the transparent parts of the dome windows and membrane isn't enough. |
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| The homeowners appreciate classic midcentury modern design — buying high-quality iconic pieces is their way of staying green. "We buy decor that will last a lifetime. We hunted some of the finest furniture made this century, and they now sit beautifully in the pods, with guests appreciating their quality as well as beauty," says Milligan. |
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| This window looks directly out to islands in the southwest, so you can watch bad weather approaching 20 minutes before it actually hits the area. "One of the things that make the pods special is the idea of being protected no matter what the weather. You just get a feeling of calm within the dome even if it's storming outside," says Milligan. |
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| Milligan and Meekin sometimes prefer to lounge in the cedar soaking tub, watching the eagles fish or the geese migrate south. Related: Soak Up Nature With Outdoor Baths |
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| All the curved cedar sheets used throughout the dome were sourced from the local forests, which are part of the Forest Stewardship Council. Natural spring water is heated by an exterior water boiler, and the water is sourced from a natural spring. The separate shower stall, terry-cloth bathrobes and fresh towels add to the glam factor and assure that no one staying there really has to "rough it." Related: Guest Picks: Glam Up Your Camping |
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The homeowners know that the dome is a temporary structure, and it's been their mission to tread gently on the earth they inhabit and to respect the dome's natural surroundings. "We want to prove to ourselves that we can leave the site with minimal footprint," says Milligan.
Comments
Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel You didn't mention insulation issues with that thin skin covering the dome. Keeping cool isn't an issue in Scotland. Keeping warm is.
12 months ago · Like
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rockout Where are the sleeping quarters?
12 months ago · Like
melora9 how much is it?
12 months ago · Like
nibbler what about piercing issues? (all that pvc)
12 months ago · Like
andieeh This isn't exactly camping of any form, even glamping. This is vacationing.
12 months ago · Like
wqxanadu 很漂亮的造型。good！
12 months ago · Like
rich024 im interested to buy. and we like to have the contact details or email us to rich024@webmail.co.za
11 months ago · Like
txdgp 挺特别创意。
10 months ago · Like
wbcambridge my favourite house of all , love dome living,
10 months ago · Like
Cathy Lara wbcambridge, Dome living for a week is going in my bucket list.
10 months ago · Like
interiordesignltd Not my favorite building. And to me it seems like a house, not a home.
9 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on June 1, 2012.
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