CULTYBRAGGAN CAMP – HUT 1
- The Trust aims to refurbish hut 1 as a visitor centre and base for the Camp caretaker and occasional use by volunteers / staff. This hut was selected because of its prominent position at the gate and because it has electricity and water.
- It was intended that volunteers would take the project forward with some funding but it has proved difficult to get funding for property improvements.
- The Government – through Architecture Design Scotland (ADS) – now has a small fund and staff time, which can be put to the use of exemplar communities (including Comrie) on such building works.
- Preliminary discussions and a site visit have taken place with the team from ADS. The scope of the project is:
a) to refurbish hut 1 as a demonstration of how low-carbon local materials can be used in buildings, e.g. sheep wool insulation. ADS has a library of local sustainable materials. The aim would be to encourage trade bodies, e.g. Forestry Commission, to showcase their materials in this building, and in the process to fund this element of the work. John Gilbert Architects have been appointed to prepare sketch options, outline material quantities and prepare illustrations. If successful this project would allow the Trust to better understand the costs and materials required to refurbish other huts using sustainable materials, e.g. the B Listed huts for use by artists and artisans. This information would also be disseminated to others looking to refurbish similar buildings,
b) to refurbish hut 1 as a temporary museum (until such time as the Futures Centre opens) with signposting, story boards, etc., to allow visitors to navigate their way around the camp.
- ADS has a limited capital budget (up to £10k) but would hope to lever in funding from those suppliers keen to demonstrate their building materials. The team`s expertise is being put at the Trust`s disposal. A 3 month project was indicated but this appears to be flexible.
April 2012
