AN LAIMHRIG

Isle of Eigg

An Laimhrig is a multi-purpose building that sits at the heart of community and visitor life on Eigg. WT Architecture worked with the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust to refurbish and extend the original building, constructed following the pioneering community-buyout of the island in 1997.

This latest chapter in the history of community-ownership of the island involved reconfiguration and upgrade of the tea-room, construction of a separate bar, a new shop, waiting room, toilet facilities, office and creation of space for tourist information and local craft and adventures businesses, all under one roof. In addition to the development of the main building a new shower, WC and laundry block was constructed for campers and infrastructural upgrades were carried out to improve and strengthen the capacity of island’s power and water supplies and provide effectively for the development.

The new buildings focus on providing a vibrant focal point for life on Eigg; balancing the needs of both islanders and visitors and creating a greater sense of connection between internal spaces and the surrounding landscape. The new development opens up views and circulation between the tea room, bar and external space to the south of the building, improving use of outside space for eating and drinking and increasing natural daylighting and solar gain to the internal spaces. On the pier side of the building a reconfigured waiting room connects two external arcade spaces, allowing the various functions of the building to feel more connected and providing valuable sheltered outside space. Glazing is carefully configured to allow not only views over the surrounding landscape but also to allow building users to keep a watchful eye on ferry arrivals, departures and deliveries.

In a community founded on sustainable principles, the importance of delivering an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable building was paramount. The new development provides excellent thermal efficiency and comfort levels, utilising low-embodied carbon materials, some of which were sourced on the island itself. A holistic sustainability strategy was used, shaped around island-specific parameters defining approach to material supply, maintenance requirements, energy use and generation and use of local labour and skills. The design team worked closely in partnership with client, community and contractors to deliver an ambitious project within extremely tight budget constraints. The result is a scheme we are proud to have been a part of.

The final stage of works at Galmisdale Pier was the development of the 'Green Shed’, a steel portal frame, green powder-coated steel clad store. Originally built to store materials for the construction of the original An Laimhirg building, the Green Shed was then used as an hoc, temporary covered space for residents to store larger items coming on and off the pier. Its cladding had come to the end of its life but the bones of the building and its volume was seen by the island as an opportunity to retrofit rather than demolish and start again.

The first phase of site infrastructure works and construction of the shower block also included construction of a Plant Room within the Green Shed. This houses 2no. 60kW log biomass boilers, slowly burning island-grown timber, hot water cylinders to cope with the heating and hot water demand for the whole site, water treatment facilities to treat island spring water, and services to accept future connections for solar thermal panels as well as surplus energy generated from the island photovoltaic grid.

With the plant room and An Laimhrig complete, attention turned to the retrofit of the rest of the Green Shed. Externally insulating the steel frame maximised space but also critically minimised any potential interstitial condensation issues in the primary structure. The internal volume was divided to provide spaces for a Coastguard store and four lettable units that the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust could rent out to local businesses and startups. The businesses benefit from the highly insulated fabric, and services powered by 100% island renewables as well as large floor-to-eaves glazing providing bucolic island views and long views back to the mainland. The additional businesses working in the revitalised Green Shed add an extra layer of dynamism to the already thriving community that greets visitors stepping off the pier and islanders coming to do use all the facilities in An Laimhrig.