Acharacle is a small and remote community on the south-west tip of Loch Shiel, some 40 miles west of Fort William.

For many years the village had campaigned for a new primary school and community space to replace the old Victorian buildings, which were becoming difficult and expensive to maintain. In 2004, Highland Council invited tenders to compile a brief for the development of a new primary school. The Highland Structure Plan 2001 and a document “Designing for Sustainability in the Highlands”, in draft at the time, set requirements including – supporting viable communities; contributing to a prosperous and vibrant local economy; safeguarding and enhancing the natural and built environment.

Within this context, Gaia Architects were appointed to compile a brief for the school. They then continued as project architects. Gaia were keen to develop a scheme which had minimal environmental impact, while satisfying the needs of the users. They guided the client and the community in many of the design choices to be made.