TREE house

This new family home in the Scottish borders is built over five levels to address its dramatic sloping woodland setting

- Caroline Ednie

OWNER Paula Milanesi

PROJECT Contemporary self-build

LOCATION Scottish Borders

SIZE 145m2

BUILD TIME 12 months

BUILD ROUTE Self-build with project manager

PLOT/HOUSE COST N/A

BUILD COST £198,000 (+utilities £12,000)

VALUE Unknown

EPC RATING C

Tucked away in a quiet woodland setting in the Scottish Borders is a family house that, according to owner Paula Milanesi, has been built with the generosity of many friends and colleagues who helped her achieve her first self-build for just under £200,000.

The project began in 2013 when Paula started to think about the plot, adjacent to her parents' home, as a potential site to build a home that she could settle in with her two children.

“The site wasn't really used. I thought that if I could build this house it would give me financial security and I could be close to mum and dad. Originally, I had thought I could build a kit house, as my budget was incredibly tight, but it was not a plot that lent itself to that." At this point, Paula decided to have a chat with an old friend, architect Neil Taylor of Edinburgh-based TAP Architects. “Neil was a friend from school, and he was really excited about the idea of building on the site. It took me a while to work up the courage to go forward as there were so many risks involved, but Neil was very patient.”

LOCATING THE HOUSE