When Series 1 of Scotland’s Home of the Year ended, I remember thinking: if there is a Series 2, how will we possibly match that? For the winner of Series 1 was just so remarkable, exquisite, amazing, inspiring, wonderful…the expletives, I recall, ran out.
And then Series 2 did happen, and we did find a(nother) winner, as remarkable, exquisite, amazing, inspiring, wonderful……
I suppose on reflection it was a bit naive to think we wouldn’t find a home in Series 2 to match the one in Series 1. The factors which make a home special are myriad: the invention and commitment of owners, limitless; the quantity of quality architecture, expansive; the scenery of Scotland, whether urban or natural, richly imbued, wherever one looks. It is telling therefore that the two winners, each equally as incredible, were so transparently different: the first, stark, white, modern, set in the landscape of sky and loch; the latter, old(er), urbane, cluttered full of treasures. They could hardly have been more different – where the aesthetic of the former spoke of austere gallery, the latter was an Aladdin’s cave.
They did of course share similarities. The architecture of both, despite the apparent stylistic differences was of a scale that invited immediately: awe; and they were both planned well, they both maximised their view, and both were well built, carefully and with due attention to detail. However, over and above the architecture, both shared that sense of additionality: a level of commitment to their inherent intentions, to their aesthetic preference: whether stripped back and minimal or decorated to the extreme – and one could sense that investment from the moment one walked through the door. It was instantaneous……
But the thought which lingers with me most, has nothing to do with those identifiable, measurable qualities, but rather the immeasurable. There was some other factor (maybe it was the accumulation of many) which propelled these two forwards, across the finishing line, further and beyond the others because of this additional quality. And what is this additional quality? I read once that from the moment of entering a potential home, to confirming the decision to buy it, on average, it takes no more than seven minutes. This is (considerably) shorter by far than many might spend, deciding on a pair of shoes, or what to have for dinner. I don’t think I’m highlighting a fact unknown – that there is simply something true about the statement: you just know when it’s right……
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Of course, this does highlight a tricky aspect of my role as a judge, being impressed with the duty to make judgement of the qualities of a home, as objectively as possible…but I’m only human, and am affected as are we all, by the wonder that is home. I’ll never forget the walk up the ramp and sliding between the two white drums, to stand as gifted, the view of the loch in the winning house of Series 1; as I will never forget being drawn through the carnival of delights that cascaded from every facet of the winner of Series 2. Both exuded a spirit that truly cannot be measured, but can only confirm: that when it is right, it is right, and this is especially so, when right is even righter……
Michael Angus (Jan 2021)