Mary Arnold-Forster puts a fresh spin on the classic Scottish longhouse with this unique home on the Isle of Skye, which captures views of the Northern Lights.

The Tokavaig property is built on a rugged plot with incredible views over Canna and Rhum. It takes its cues from rural Longhouses – a type of single-storey farmhouse built across Scotland and Northern Europe for hundreds of years. Longhouses were traditionally constructed in timber, with stone and mud joints, earth floors, and thatched roofs.

Arnold-Forster’s modern design pays homage to this heritage but uses local, modern materials to craft living spaces across 1400 sq ft.

The Scottish property has a long and low profile, with a free-flowing open-plan layout across the ground floor and living spaces that are orientated to capture southwest coastal views through floor-to-ceiling picture windows. Arnold-Forster has also installed a series of skylights overhead to capture the passage of the sun throughout the day.

The living room opens onto a large decked terrace, which doubles as a dining area in warmed months and a star-gazing platform to enjoy views of the Aurora Borealis, The Milky Way, and noctilucent clouds (the area has a Bortle Grade-2 night sky, i.e. a truly dark site with little light pollution.) Colder months can also be spent in front of the cosy log burner, set against a polished concrete wall – perhaps a nod to the rugged stone of the house’s predecessors.

The kitchen is large and modern, with bespoke joinery and discreet appliances. The Isle of Skye property has four bedrooms, three of which occupy the upper level (another deviation from traditional long houses, which are single-storey.) There’s also a family bathroom and ample storage on this level.

The Modern House is listing the island home for £500,000. But its views are priceless.

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