AT the end of the Second World War, with the return of thousands of troops, Scotland was in the midst of a housing crisis.

The Weir house, seen here on the Garscube Estate, was one of several types built using non-traditional methods of construction in an attempt to meet increased demand. The main structure consisted of prefabricated pressed steel units incorporating vertical stiffeners and a pressed steel outer skin.

The design, although quick to erect, wasn't perfect for the Scottish climate; the flat roofs often leaked and the walls provided precious little insulation, meaning the houses were freezing in winter and like ovens in the summer.

Many of the houses were later overclad and given peaked roofs, and some still survive to this day.