COLIN'S AIRFIELD OF DREAMS Avid aviator is living high life on traditional landing strip

Published date23 June 2021
Publication titleWishaw Press
Just as the Field of Dreams movie mantra would have it, an intrinsically intuitive Colin knew that if he built it, they would come.

Yet, the aviator is a long way from fully realising the bold vision he had when, five years ago, he bought the land in Strathaven from which aircraft soar.

Although he and his family own that land on which sits the oldest, continually-used airstrip in Scotland and the dream home that captured the imagination of armchair design enthusiasts when it starred in the Channel 4 show, Grand Designs, the MacKinnons are of the firm belief that it's not only their natural habitat - it's that of the entire community of Strathaven and the abundance of wildlife that contributes to its ecological wealth.

With a Spanish wife, Marta, who's a graduate of Madrid's School of Art, visionary Colin knew that when they issued the brief to design a home that would complement the airfield and its environs, it had the potential to attract submissions from renownedarchitects f r o m around the world.

"One of the reasons people use an architect is to give a distinct identity to a place," said Colin who, along with Marta, decided to sell the family home in Jordanhill, Glasgow, with the aim of building a house without a mortgage, 850ft above sea level, on their sprawling Strathaven land.

"The area has a futuristic landscape, with the wind turbines at Whitelee and views all around. It has to be functional. It has to work. It is a huge amount of effort. But we didn't want to take something offa shelf. We wanted something that is ours."

The commission to design the house, situated parallel to Strathaven Airfield's 530m grass runway, was awarded to acclaimed Edinburgh-based architect Richard Murphy - himself a keen aviator who frequently flies his microlight above the imposing aluminiumclad house whose materials give a respectful nod to the cladding of adjacent farm structures and the airfield's vast hangars.

The family home and the airfield have also recently been used as a location for films and music videos, with recent shoots including videos for Lil Rass's new Drill album, and Grime-influenced rapper, Ambush.

Although the home's design resonates with its surroundings, it does not betray the story behind the airfield's past.

Strathaven's is, behind Prestwick and Glasgow Airports, the third oldest operational airfield on the west of Scotland mainland.

It was founded on the derelict Couplaw Farm by The Scottish Flying Club in the early 1960s after a decade of...

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