Childcare, Early Learning & Family Centre

Cairndow Community Childcare Ltd was established by local parents and carers in response to growing demand for childcare within this rural part of Argyll. MAST worked with Community Links Scotland to assess potential sites and develop the business case for a purpose-built facility, helping the group establish a viable route from an initial community idea to delivery.

The project developed into a proposal for a flexible mixed-use facility which catered for a variety of local needs. Alongside dedicated nursery accommodation, the facility includes the Fyne Den, a purpose-designed indoor play barn, together with flexible spaces for meetings, events and wider community use. The building’s layout allows different spaces to support a range of local activities throughout the day and beyond normal childcare hours, maximising its local value.

MAST and Community Links Scotland also worked with the client through the funding process, securing support from a number of organisations including the Big Lottery Fund and Argyll & Bute Council.

The setting is an important part of the project’s character. The two simple building forms sit comfortably against the wider Loch Fyne landscape, drawing on the agricultural buildings found nearby rather than trying to compete with them. Against this restrained backdrop, flashes of colour introduce a more playful identity, giving the building a character that reflects both its rural context and the people using it.