The Black Shed was conceived as a home and a base for Black Shed Projects. Located on the west coast of the Isle of Skye the building responds to the natural and cultural landscape.

The building was designed in partnership with Mary Arnold Forster. The project was started in May 2016 and completed in April 2017.

Following completion the building won an RIAS award in 2018 and was nominated for the Andrew Doolan Award 2019. The building also featured in numerous publications including:

• New Scottish Houses by Isabelle Priest (2025), RIBA, London. pp.8-10 & 108-113.
• the RIBA Journal (October 2018), RIAS Quartely (Winter, 2018- https://www.ribaj.com/buildings/houses-skye-black-shed-blackhouse-heaste-mary-arnold-forster-isabelle-priest),
• Grand Designs Magazine (July 2018),
• Homes and Interiors Scotland (Nov/Dec 2018),
• Dezeen (https://www.dezeen.com/2019/02/17/black-shed-mary-arnold-forster-architects-houseisle-of-skye/),
• Uncrate (https://uncrate.com/black-shed-house/),
• The Modern House Magazine (Issue 4, April 2022).

The Black Shed featured in the Best use of Timber Awards 2018 Exhibition at Architecture and Design Scotland, Glasgow, January-April 2019 (https://www.ads.org.uk/timber_awards18_theblackshed/).

In addition Dezeen listed The Black Shed as one of the best 10 houses of 2019 ( https://www.dezeen.com/2019/12/21/dezeens-top-10-houses-2019-review/ ).

Context

A discussion of the history of the Blackhouse and a discussion of contemporary re-imaginings.

Publications about The Black Shed:

New Scottish Houses, Isabelle Priest (2025)

RIAS Quarterly, Winter 2018

Keeping it Simple. Caroline Ednie. Grand Designs Magazine, Nov/Dec 2018

Best Use of Timber Awards 2018, A+DS, Glasgow.

Back to Black: Highland Longhouse Reinterpreted on Skye. Isabelle Priest. RIBA Journal, October 2018

DEZEEN (https://www.dezeen.com/2019/02/17/black-shed-mary-arnold-forster-architects-houseisle-of-skye/)

Photography is by David Barbour.

Architecture Today July/August 2019 p6.