Parton Mill

Parton Mill is an 18th century porridge oats mill located on the edge of Loch Ken outside Castle Douglas. Our client approached us with the vision of restoring the derelict mill to its former glory, retaining the key historic features of the mill, such as the waterwheel and kiln, whilst converting the building into a modern, energy-efficient holiday home. The design for Parton Mill was developed using a Virtual Reality Suite.

The reconstruction of the Mill constitutes a green building process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the building’s life cycle. The design of the Mill uses natural, passive means to reduce energy. The thick stone walls regulate temperatures, and the design of the high-level glazing maximises natural daylight penetration into the first floor living areas whilst offering elevated panoramic views over Loch Ken.

Location: Castle Douglas, Scotland

Client: Private

Status: RIBA Stage 03

Our client says...

A picture tells a thousand words, and seeing our project come to life in the virtual reality suite knocks the spots off a thousand pictures. We want the rebuilding of our water mill to be a sensitive fusion of old and new. We want to preserve as many original 18th century features as possible, whilst adding 21st century engineering and construction techniques to convert it into an efficient and attractive dwelling.

Walking around our virtual mill has shown us where the design meets our objectives and has allowed us to adjust the design to improve the quality of the building and reduce building costs at the same time. By lowering the upstairs living area walls, an adjustment was made within 10 minutes to integrate window seats on top of the thick stone walls and allow much improved views over the local countryside. It is clear to see exactly how Hickman & Smith Architects are converting our vision into reality.

Parton Mill