Glengarden, Bridge Of Gairn

Glengarden, located at the Bridge of Gairn, is a large and intricately detailed villa built in 1902. Designed by Swiss artist Rudolf Christen, this Tudoresque building features two storeys with an attic and cellar. The exterior showcases mock half-timbering over granite and horizontally-aligned multi-pane windows positioned close to the eaves on the first floor. A notable feature is the former dining room window that extends through both floors, complemented by a four-light dormer window with a central pediment. The villa is constructed from pink and grey bull-faced granite, with some sections in Aberdeen bond beneath harl and timber. It has a deep grey granite base course at the ground floor cill height and a jettied first floor. The building includes a canted oriel window set in a rectangular frame, with timber transoms and mullions.

All elevations of Glengarden are asymmetrical. The principal southeast elevation features a broad advanced gable on the right, which incorporates a large corniced canted window at ground level and a five-light window on the first floor, situated below a relief-carved datestone in a corniced panel at the gablehead. A timber canopied door is located in the re-entrant angle to the left. To the northeast, there is a full-height four-light transomed French window, now partly obscured by a modern conservatory. The villa has small-pane glazing patterns in its casement windows and a red tiled roof, with canted bull-faced granite stacks and overhanging eaves adorned with plain bargeboarding.

Inside, Glengarden boasts a well-preserved decorative scheme. This includes plain and decorative plasterwork cornicing, fine timber panelling, and architraved doors fitted with brass door furniture. The interior features marble and timber fire surrounds, as well as a vertically-panelled screen door with a coloured glass panel that leads to a full-height pilastered gallery, which was formerly the dining room. This space has an open-timbered roof and a white marble fire surround with scallop detailing and scrolled consoles. A small gallery at the west end is supported by circular columns at ground level and square columns on the first floor. The villa also features a timber dog-leg staircase with an ornately plastered ceiling detail, which includes an elliptical light with coloured leaded glass. Additionally, there is an elaborate china wash hand basin in the first-floor bathroom.