About the project

When an architectural technologist with over 30 years of experience selects a material for his self-build project, it is a strong endorsement of its quality.
For Gordon Aitken, Accoya was the clear choice—not only for his latest home in West Bowhouse Steading, but also for his first self-build in Davaar House back in 2007. Having experienced Accoya’s durability firsthand, he confidently specified it again for his new home’s cladding, ensuring a long-lasting, low-maintenance exterior.

West Bowhouse Steading is a contemporary interpretation of a rural Dutch barn/Scottish Longhouse, designed to meet the rigorous Passivhaus standard—the highest certifiable level of energy efficiency in the UK.

Accoya’s unrivalled durability ensures a superior longevity with its Class 1 rating, offering a reliable, low-maintenance exterior that resists swelling, shrinking, and warping. Having seen how well Accoya performed on Davaar House over 15 years, Gordon was confident that his new home would require very little maintenance.