About Bothan
Bothan brings together architecture and craftsmanship to create small buildings and interior spaces with character, precision and a strong sense of place.
A small building has nowhere to hide. Every decision matters, proportion, light, material, detail, approach, setting.
That is exactly what draws us to this scale of work. Bothan was founded by architect Darran Crawford and craftsman Derek Annand, bringing together two complementary ways of thinking and making. One begins with space, site and use. The other begins with material, making and finish. Together, they shape projects that feel considered from the first idea to the final detail.
The people behind Bothan
Darran Crawford
Architect
Darran is an award-winning architect with more than twenty years of experience, with a particular focus on distinctive residential, tourism and hospitality projects. He brings design leadership, planning and statutory approvals experience, and a strong understanding of how to deliver carefully considered buildings in complex, sensitive and often remote locations. He is especially drawn to projects where the experience of the individual user matters as much as the building itself.
Derek Annand
Furniture Maker & Craftsman
Derek is a master craftsman known for hand-crafted furniture and hospitality commissions. He brings a maker’s eye for timber, joinery, surface, detail and the small decisions that give a space warmth and identity. His work is defined by skill, material richness and a willingness to push a piece beyond the ordinary, creating spaces and objects that feel tactile, distinctive and deeply made.
Why small buildings?
Because scale does not reduce ambition — it sharpens it.
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Small buildings demand clarity. They ask more of every line, every junction and every material choice. When they are well designed and well made, they can feel generous, memorable and quietly extraordinary.
What makes us different?
How we work
We do not start with standard models or fixed packages.
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Every project begins with a conversation about place, use, atmosphere and budget. From there, we develop a design that can be properly built, properly detailed and properly enjoyed.
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That means thinking carefully about the whole experience: how you approach the building, what you see when you enter, how materials age, how light moves through the space, how a piece is made, and how the final result will sit in its setting.
Brief & site
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We begin by understanding the site, the intended use and the kind of experience you want to create.
Design & development
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We develop the project architecturally, test ideas, refine details and, where required, guide permissions and approvals.
Making & installation
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We fabricate with care and deliver with close attention to fit, finish and how the space will actually be used.
Who we work with
We work with private clients, hospitality businesses, tourism operators and others looking for a small building or crafted interior that feels specific rather than standard.
Some clients come to us with a clear brief. Others come with a site, an ambition and a sense that the answer needs to be more considered than an off-the-shelf solution.