Nicolson Mackenzie Memorial Hospital, Strathpeffer

The Nicolson Mackenzie Memorial Hospital in Strathpeffer was designed by W C Joass and opened in 1896. Although it was built as a hospital, its initial appearance resembles a mid to late 19th-century villa. The building features white harling and slate roofs, with some alterations made over time.

Architecturally, it is symmetrical and follows the common design for small-scale hospitals, consisting of three parallel rectangular blocks connected by narrow links. The south front has single bay gable ends, with the outer ward blocks being single storey and the central block rising to two storeys over a basement that is set into the slope of the ground. The ground floor has a canted three-window bay with round-headed windows, original timber brackets, and a modern steel handrail that encloses a balcony accessed by a first-floor window.

The links are fronted by fully-glazed sun-rooms, which may have been added later. The outer gables feature French windows, and the glazing patterns include small multi-pane designs, primarily sash and case windows, along with some hopper windows. The eaves are bracketed, and ashlar stacks are positioned above the flank walls or gables. Additionally, there are ranges at the rear, including a low wing extending from the central block that contains the main entrance, which is accessed through a porch.