A striking contemporary home perched dramatically over the rocky shores of Loch Long in Scotland showcases how innovative design can transform a former military brownfield site into an architectural masterpiece. John MacKinnon and his wife Laura successfully navigated the challenging process of building directly on the British coastline, creating their modernist beach house called Rock Cove on the Rosneath peninsula, located 40 miles northwest of Glasgow.
The location's history presented both challenges and opportunities for the ambitious project. While the area boasts wild and ruggedly beautiful natural scenery, it was previously intertwined with military operations and served as a brownfield site filled with disused Ministry of Defence huts and garages, overgrown vegetation, and scattered rubble. This industrial past actually helped the MacKinnons secure planning permission, as they were essentially rehabilitating an eyesore rather than disrupting pristine coastline.
MacKinnon's journey began in 2008 when he purchased a 1940s cottage on the same site that had been repurposed as a navy signaling station. Driven by his deep-seated passion for design, he collaborated closely with architect Stuart Cameron of Cameron Webster to completely reimagine the humble property as a modernist beach house called Cape Cove. This successful transformation led him to contemplate what could be accomplished with the unsightly space adjacent to his newly renovated home.
The design brief for Rock Cove was both ambitious and practical: create a house that maximized the incredible setting and breathtaking views while optimizing the living space within a relatively small footprint. MacKinnon explained that having worked with Stuart Cameron previously made the progression smooth, noting they held countless conversations about creating a house that would transform an eyesore without impinging on Cape Cove's space or views. To maximize the limited space available, they conceived a house that dramatically juts out over the rocks below.
The couple's vision included specific requirements for their future retirement: a single-level, step-free design that would be easy to maintain while making the most of the incredible views. Their architectural influences drew from diverse modernist sources, including the low-slung desert modernist architecture of California's Palm Springs, Frank Lloyd Wright's houses (especially the iconic Fallingwater in Pennsylvania), and the Vandamm House set from Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller "North by Northwest," which was itself inspired by Fallingwater.
"It's about the clean lines and the connection to nature, through both the materials and the walls of glass," MacKinnon explained. The resulting building perfectly embodies these principles: a simple yet completely arresting low-slung box cantilevered out over the rocks below. The design's success is evident in the several architectural awards it has garnered since completion.
Architect Stuart Cameron offers practical advice for those considering similar contemporary housebuild projects. He recommends talking to the local planning department first, researching whether any highly contemporary houses have been approved recently, and asking for their architect recommendations. Cameron suggests paying small fees to two or three architects to develop basic designs and looking for an architect who asks "what if?" while pushing the vision forward.
Like any thoughtful design, Rock Cove involved strategic trade-offs in its layout and proportions. The generous kitchen-dining-living space, which features spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows, comes at the expense of four more modestly proportioned en suite bedrooms. Each bedroom opens onto a terrace that runs along one side of the house, while the opposite side remains windowless to provide privacy for both Cape Cove and Rock Cove.
The house's unique layout required creative solutions for circulation and entertainment. With the front door necessarily located at the opposite end from the cantilevered living area, Cameron and MacKinnon made the bold decision to transform the corridor into a room in its own right, making it a generous 6.5 feet wide. "It's a great space to put tables during parties and John wanted somewhere to display his collection of Aboriginal art," Cameron noted.
The materials chosen reflect the building's modernist influences while addressing the harsh coastal environment. Wood and stone provide a close-to-nature feel while being reusable and sustainable. To cope with sometimes extreme weather conditions, the floor-to-ceiling windows are triple-glazed, and the doors drop down onto seals when closed to keep howling winds at bay. The exterior was wrapped in Kebony, a robust timber product that has since weathered to an attractive silvery finish.
Interior design choices prioritize both aesthetics and practicality for the couple's retirement years and rental business. In the pristine space, pieces such as the vast modular Ikea Söderhamn sofa pass as designer items. "It's a great design and easy to buy replacement covers so, again, future-proof," MacKinnon explained. Similarly, the kitchen uses a standard Howdens design elevated by ultra-tough Dekton by Cosentino worktops, chosen for durability and low maintenance since they rent out the house for holidays.
Life at Rock Cove has proven as satisfying as the couple anticipated when they first envisioned their dramatic coastal retreat. "We're quite social creatures and like to fill the house with family and friends. But it's nice to enjoy the place in solitude, to sit and watch the ever-changing weather," MacKinnon reflects. The house successfully balances their desire for entertaining with peaceful contemplation of the Scottish coastal landscape. Rock Cove is available for holiday rentals through holidaycottages.co.uk, allowing others to experience this architectural achievement firsthand.
