People

Aisling Rusk, Director – PhD, BSc(Hons) Architecture, MArch, ARB, RIBA

Aisling studied Art in Manchester before completing her studies in Architecture (with first class honours) in Aberdeen and Cardiff, where her award-winning student work was twice shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Presidents Medals. She has worked in London, Edinburgh, New Zealand and Belfast projects with a range of scales.  Prior to establishing Studio Idir she built her reputation locally undertaking a number of widely-published residential projects as a sole practitioner. Her PhD investigated spatial practices that build connection within the divided contexts of Palestine/Israel and Northern Ireland. She teaches MArch at QUB in the Streetspace Studio with Agustina Martire, is the inaugural chair of RSUA Women in Architecture and sits on the RIBA Validation Panel.  Aisling was selected  as one of the Architect’s Journal’s 40 architects under 40 in 2020.  She lives in East Belfast with her husband and two children.

Katie Stringer, Architect – BSc(Hons) Architecture, MArch, ARB, RIBA

Katie studied architecture in the city of Bath, completing her course after undertaking placement at Macgregor Smith Landscape Architecture, gaining valuable experience working on a major regeneration scheme in North London. Graduating in 2015, she moved to Bristol to work at Keep Architecture, working on rural masterplanning schemes for a year before moving back to her home city of Belfast. Katie completed her masters in architecture at Queens University (with first class honours), with a degree thesis focused on creating sensitive spaces that care for and respond to the health of the body and mind, with themes of sanctuary and tranquility explored through hand drawings and mixed-media pieces. Katie built on her experience whilst working at Consarc-Design Group, before being welcomed into Studio Idir in 2019, and in the Autumn of 2020, she successfully completed her Part 3 Certificate to become a qualified architect! Katie continues to use her computer-aided graphic design skills, as well as her hand drawn and artistic skills on a variety of small projects for university societies, local businesses, and weddings.

Graeme Goudy, Senior Architectural Technician

Graeme studied the Built Environment with Information Technology at North Down and Ards Institute.  He has 15 years of experience working in architecture and has gained extensive knowledge on a wide variety of projects and sectors. Graeme began his career in Ostick and Williams Architects where he worked on high-end pharmaceutical, educational and large retail projects throughout Ireland. He then travelled to New Zealand and worked for Catalyst Consulting on a number of different projects, including design and fitout of office spaces to the restoration of a small timber-frame housing development in the centre of Auckland.  On returning home he set up his own consultancy firm delivering bespoke drawing and BIM services for the Construction/Architectural industry, completing many new houses, listed dwelling renovations and the odd barn conversion.  After 6 successful years he accepted a position with Calico Architects, assisting on a variety of high-end residential projects in London, an industrial facility in Hull and a state of the art office development in Belfast.  Graeme lives in the heart of the Ards Peninsula with his wife and young family. He has a strong passion for sport and is a keen follower of Ireland and Ulster rugby teams.

Aisling Madden, Part II Assistant – BSc(Hons) Architecture, MArch

Aisling studied architecture at Queen’s University Belfast after attending the PLACE Urban Design Academy while she was still at school. During her studies, Aisling returned to volunteer at this annual event which aimed to encourage young people’s interest in urban design. Graduating in 2016, Aisling moved to Rotterdam to work in Maccreanor Lavington Architects for a year, gaining experience of working on high quality residential masterplans. Upon returning to Northern Ireland, Aisling worked for White Ink Architects where she developed her technical knowledge, working on an 18-storey residential building which was then under construction in London. Aisling completed her masters of architecture at Queen’s University Belfast (with first class honours) where she developed her interest in engaging with communities to design affordable and accessible urban projects that are focused on the needs of people. Aisling’s degree thesis built on her ethnographic research in Belfast’s Sailortown, designing a mixed use, plot based scheme to encourage a vibrant community to grow in the area. Aisling enjoys hand drawing and sketching, and used these skills to produce the final images for her thesis. Aisling received a Commendation in the RIAI & Architecture Ireland Student Writing Prize in 2019, testament to her passion for research and writing.

Áine McEnoy, Architect – BArch (Hons) Architecture, ARB, RIBA

Áine studied Architecture in University College Dublin, graduating with Honours in 1996.
She has worked for architectural practices in Dublin, Berlin and Belfast, and has a diverse range of professional experience.
Áine gained valuable design experience working for design led practices in Dublin, where she developed a love of the craft of making buildings, which included working on a number of award winning projects while at de Paor Architects and de Blacam & Meagher Architects, and at O’Briain Beary Architects where she consolidated practical skills of working on larger scale healthcare and residential projects.
Following a career break (to raise her three children), Áine worked as a sole practitioner on small scale domestic projects while also involved in studio teaching at the School of Architecture at Queen’s University, where she still contributes as a studio tutor. Before joining Studio idir, she worked for over 5 years at the award winning practice McGonigle McGrath in Belfast, where she gained valuable experience in carefully delivering high design quality private dwellings, extensions and refurbishments, with particular attention to detail design and construction.

Grace Carney, Part I Assistant – BSc(Hons) Architecture

Grace moved from Donegal to study architecture in Queen’s University Belfast in 2018 and has recently graduated with first class honours. During her time in university she developed a diverse range of projects, garnering a passion for adaptive reuse and sustainable design methods. Her most recent work was featured in Dezeen magazine as part of Queen’s school show. Since graduating, Grace has worked with MH Associates in Letterkenny and Atelier Rae in Dublin, gaining a wealth of foundational knowledge about the profession. As well as architecture, Grace enjoys all things film and hopes to explore the connections between these two passions going into her Masters in the next year.

Jude Faloon, Executive Assistant & Office Manager

Jude joined Studio idir in February 2022 as the Executive Assistant and Office Manager. Jude has been working in the built environment sector for over 15 years having previously worked for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and more recently, for the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA). Jude is passionate about people, striving to improve the lives of those around her and the wider community. Jude lives in Holywood with her husband Mark, dog Lola and a tortoise Gonzalez.