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1960s, Midcentury modern, Modernist, United Kingdom

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland (image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

Pretty much the dream for many, this 1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland, is up for sale.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

Known as The Quarry, this is everything fans of 1960s modern architecture would be looking for. A B-listed house with the architecture intact, the interior largely untouched and some wonderful period details in place.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

Of course, there is also the coastal location (which is still only 20 miles from Edinburgh) as well as the potential to tweak the design for 21st-century living without altering the ‘fabric’ of the house. So much on offer here, and although not cheap (of course it isn’t), I suspect there will be no shortage of potential buyers.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

The house dates back to 1964, the work of award-winning architects Morris & Steedman (still operating to this day) and a bold piece of architecture back in the day. You could argue it still is, almost 60 years on.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

The architectural pairing was inspired by their meeting and subsequent training with influential European architects, including Alvar Aalto, bringing this modernist inspiration into the UK and specifically Scotland, setting up their practice in Edinburgh in 1957, which initially focused on residential properties with a ‘selection of forward-thinking clients’. This is one such house.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

I have featured other Morris and Steedman designs in the past, and there is that common ground of adventurous architecture that’s both forward-thinking and of its age. And in terms of the latter, that is a positive. For me, the architecture of this era has a magic you rarely find outside the decade.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

And that certainly applies to The Quarry. This is very much an Aalto-inspired design, but one that adapts effortlessly to the modern era. Bright, open living spaces never really date.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

With this one, you get two offset overhanging mono-pitch roofs that slope steeply towards the west, with ground floor brickwork that contrasts with the white rendered exterior of the upper floors. Eye-catching.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

As I said, most of the original interior is still in place, which is a massive positive. That’s rarely the case after six decades. Large aluminium picture windows wrap around the south and west-facing sides of the ground floor, boosting the natural light within and offering far-reaching views out to the Lammermuir Hills from the house’s elevated position.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

And you can’t help but be drawn to the wood-clad and vaulted ceilings within, as well as the built-in fixtures, the original doors, the original lighting and more. An unfussy design and layout that would make the perfect blank canvas for your midcentury modern art and furnishings.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

Not that it’s perfect as it stands. You would probably consider a refresh of the bathroom, which is very much of its era but might not pass the test in terms of morn-era practicality. You might also want to consider the kitchen area too.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

Kitchens have changed in terms of their functionality over the years, and there may be potential to extend this space. Planning permission was granted in April 2020 to extend the house, with the current owners subsequently working with Philip Flockhart of the original architects Morris and Steedman to discuss ways in which the house could be extended. Copies of Philip Flockhart’s sketch plans are available to inspect at the house if you are a serious buyer.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

So potential to boost the space, although there is plenty of floor space in the current layout. The ground floor of The Quarry is described as a ‘flowing semi-open plan space’, with doors leading through from one room to another and all rooms being accessible from a central hall.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

The sitting room is something of a focal point, with a sloping double-height ceiling that echoes the external shape of the building and is clad in narrow Douglas Fir strips and with all that light from the large south-facing windows. Note that the original horizontal-style marble fireplace is still in place, finished with a black granite raised hearth.

The garden room is bright and airy, with full glazing on three sides offering views out into the gardens, separated from the sitting room by a glazed partition with double doors and with further double doors leading out to the patio overlooking the garden.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

I mentioned the kitchen earlier, and as it stands, it still has the original Hygena-style fitted kitchen units and Formica worktop, with a bespoke stainless steel sink unit, a Belling double oven and the original Scholtes four-ring gas hob. A breakfast room too, plus an adjacent utility room. For more formal eating, there is a dining room accessed from the kitchen and hall, which is dual-aspect overlooking the garden.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

The principal bedroom suite is also accessed from the hall, featuring a walk-through dressing area with built-in wardrobe storage, a bedroom with large dual-aspect picture windows overlooking the front garden (with original blinds still fitted and working) plus an en-suite bathroom with the original turquoise bathroom suite.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

Head upstairs to see the remaining rooms, which are made up of three further double bedrooms with more great views beyond, a pink-tiled bathroom and a separate WC. A large eaves storage area is just off the fourth bedroom, offering ‘an abundance’ of household storage. If you want more, there’s plenty more available in the attic.

Even more, if you want to use the garage for storage. There’s an integrated double garage on the lower ground floor, which also accesses a workshop and store.

As for the outside space, that’s substantial, too, covering something like 1.75 acres. The current owners have cleared the plot considerably during their ownership and have begun replanting a series of trees and shrubs. At the front of the house, steps up from the drive are flanked by newly-planted cherry blossom trees with a lawn and decked area on one side and a flower bed on the other that has been re-planted with annuals to ‘create a colourful display in Spring and Summer’.

To the west of the house is a woodland area that is linked to the former quarry by a series of pathways and a ‘large and sunny ‘stone grotto that faces south to the house above.

1960s Morris & Steedman modern house in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
(image credit: Rettie/Sean Begley at Exposure Scotland Ltd)

 

The quarry garden is understood to have been landscaped with a series of paths as a garden to the adjacent Belton House, including the creation of four large plunge pools below a rock face and terraced rock formations down which a waterfall flowed by means of a pumped system.

A great place and an equally great setting. This Morris & Steedman modern house is on the market for offers over £1,175,000.

Images and details courtesy of Rettie. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.

Note that all imagery is courtesy of Sean Begley from Exposure Scotland Ltd.

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