Journal
16th June, 2022
An exciting new chapter
It’s been a little while since we’ve done a journal entry and fortunately that’s not down to writer’s block… So far 2022 has been one of our busiest years on record, with a huge multidisciplinary project for a well known Highland castle occupying much of the team as it comes to fruition.
The five-year, £30m+ restoration and renovation project at the Category A listed castle has been a fascinating one for our new Managing Director, Daniel Tweats MRICS, to oversee. As well as creating new cobbled access roads, suspension bridge, gardens, outbuildings and state-of-the-art Biomass centralised district heating system, the extensive works included construction of an exquisite castle extension, conservatory based on original Victorian drawings and a traditional loch-side boathouse.
It has been a pleasure working again with Ptolemy Dean Architects and landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith on this project - both amongst the very best in their fields. Our client, too, has been a joy to work with, sharing their vision for getting everything just right, and appreciating how much skill and attention to detail that demands. The project utilised fantastic native and reclaimed materials such as Caithness stone, handmade Laddus bricks, reclaimed granite setts and locally felled Chestnut, Douglas fir and Oak - and a mixture of traditional and modern techniques - to mesmerising effect. We’d call it the perfect restoration/renovation.
For those of you who don’t yet know our new MD, Daniel has succeeded his father and company founder, Mike Tweats. A renowned stonemason specialist with vast experience across numerous prestige projects, Mike has passed the passion for quality and authenticity to Daniel, who also brings his own experience as a Quantity Surveyor on large engineering and civils projects in the south east of England.
Starting his career with Kishorn Specialist Contractors back in 2007 as a carpenter - before going on to receive a First Class Honours Degree at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University - Daniel was the perfect candidate to take over from Mike. With Mike remaining as a Director and Consultant, Daniel will continue to benefit from his vast experience of traditional construction methods and materials as the rebranded ‘Kishorn Heritage’ starts an exciting new chapter.