Kitchen of the Week: The Lengths Studio, a Former Primary School Kitchen Transformed in the Scottish Highlands - Remodelista

"Originally built for industry workers' children in 1966, the school was abandoned in 2010: "It had been mothballed. It looked like there had been some kind of event that had caused the pupils and staff to flee at speed, leaving everything behind. The exterior was pretty rotten. the roof leaked, and windows were broken," she says. Surprisingly for the duo, seeing the building "at its worst amplified the majesty outside.""

"Space and budget were key priorities at the time. The couple had been living in Edinburgh for 10 years and had always rented somewhere large enough for both of them to have a home studio. However, when their landlord decided to end their long tenancy, they struggled to find somewhere affordable to live and carry on their creative practices. Exploring industrial spaces was one possible avenue, which eventually led them to the 300-square-meter school and to a whole new chapter in the West Highlands."

"From the moment they moved in, "the work was full on for around five years." Ziggy ( aka Lomond Campbell) had just released his debut album, and one track in particular, The Lengths, seemed to sum up the long road that lay ahead of them. Susie became the project manager and builder while Ziggy tried to bring in cash-a mortgage was out of the question due to the non-standard commercial status and dilapidated state of the building-and help in between work trips."

Susie Brown and Ziggy Campbell discovered a derelict primary school for sale on the Ardgour peninsula near Fort William in 2013 and were drawn to its building and location. The school, built in 1966 for industry workers' children, had been abandoned in 2010 and appeared mothballed with belongings left behind, a rotten exterior, leaking roof and broken windows, while the surrounding landscape remained majestic. Space and budget needs after their Edinburgh tenancy ended led them to the 300-square-meter modernist building. They moved in and spent about five years renovating; Susie managed and built while Ziggy sought funding, released music and helped between work trips. Neither had renovation experience but both had sculpture training and were practicing creatives.

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