Lairg Dam And Power Station, Shin Hydro Electric Scheme

James Shearer (architect for the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board architectural panel), George Wimpey and Co. Ltd (engineers and contractors), 1960. Large mass gravity dam, integrated with power station in modern vernacular to right (NE) of fixed spillway. Spillway with 3 large control gates. Mass concrete to dam. Random rubble to turbine hall and control towers.

DAM: mass concrete dam oriented SW to NE. Fixed spillway to centre flanked by taller parapet walls to either side with vehicular access roadways supported by slender concrete piers to the downstream face. Fixed spillway to left (SW) of centre with lower spillway to right (NE) with control gates. Large concrete buttresses supporting oversailing gantry with gantry for gate winches above. Concrete parapet to upstream face; painted metal railings to downstream face.

POWER STATION: tall 2-storey (with additional storey to dam parapet at rear) roughly L-plan power station with circular-plan stair tower to far right (NE), and small rectangular control room to far left (SW) adjacent to spillway; all integrated with dam wall. Large random rubble with plain concrete surrounds. NE ELEVATION: large vehicular access doorway with decorative coat of arms above and small off-centre rectangular window at attic. Tall pedestrian access doorway with metal roller shutter and decorative carved panel of Celtic symbols above to advanced single bay on parapet. SE ELEVATION: 2-storey, 4-bay advanced centre with taller single recessed bay to right with small advanced block to base and round stair tower adjacent. Lower advanced block to far left (SW) with plain concrete elevation behind. Large transomed and mullioned tri-partite window off-centre to advanced bays of turbine hall with 4 small rectangular windows above to attic. Pedestrian access doorway to advanced lower block at right (NE) with rectangular window to left. Single window to 2nd storey with steep open sandstone pediment. STAIR TOWER: circular-plan stair tower to far right (NE) of power station with regular narrow fenestration and shallow conical copper roof to NW elevation.

Predominantly bi-partite fixed pane metal glazing in painted metal surrounds with some hopper openings. Recessed platform roofs; prominent copper roof with up-stand seams and central ball finial to stair tower. Cast-iron rainwater goods integrated with roof.

INTERIOR: predominantly plain functional interior. Single large space to turbine hall with gantry to sides supporting large overhead travelling crane. Some tiled floors throughout.