Congratulations to Katie on passing her Part 3 Professional Practice in Architecture Course at Queen’s University! See our People page for more info, or check out the @women_in_architecture_ni instagram page for more insights from Katie, amongst a host of other fabulous women, on her journey to becoming an architect.
Another Aisling!
1st October 2020
At the beginning of September we welcomed Aisling Madden to Studio idir as a Part II Architectural Assistant. Aisling brings energy, enthusiasm and an eye for colour and life-filled imagery. Check out her Autumnal take on our Kincora Project below, and read more about her on our People page.
We are Hiring!
2nd July 2020
Application for the Part I/II Architectural Assistant post is now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied!
Draw, Drink, Discuss
22nd May 2020
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/draw-drink-discuss-tickets-106346537356
Isolation Escapes lockdown drawing by Anna Gibb
Aisling, along with the lovely architect-extraordinaire Aoife McGee, are delighted to be hosting a Friday evening of light entertainment as part of Women in Architecture UK’s series of lockdown events, representing RSUA Women in architecture NI (have you checked out our amazing instagram yet, with weekly guest hosts?!). Drawing not your thing? There will be a specially commissioned print by Anna Gibb for you to print at home and colour in, instead! The event is free and there will be a giveaway on the night of Anna’s original drawing and some other works, too. Also featuring brief presentations from the ridiculously talented architect-artists Jane Larmour, Mark Donnelly and Nadine Graham. This is an open event – all are welcome. Bring your own drinks. Will we see you there?! Follow the link above to book.
Image credit: Anna Gibb
Growth: for the season that’s in it
13th April 2020
Sharing a project we’ve had great pleasure in working on over the last year. Edible Flower are an inspirational catering company/supper club/home-growing/home-brewing/pair of lovely, clever individuals we are delighted to call our clients and collaborators. We have been working with them to envision a 60+ year plan of slow and sustainable growth for their Co.Down homestead. The first step, recently submitted to Planning, is converting an outbuilding into a kitchen classroom, to free up their farmhouse kitchen for family use. Longer term, they plan to grow an edible forest in their two fields, where you could forage for food to feed a group of people at any time of the year. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? As part of our masterplan, Katie prepared these beautiful images depicting our vision for the seasonal changes and growth of the homestead over the coming decades. It’s a real feel-good project!
It’s not business as usual, but we’re still here
7th April 2020
The current pandemic has shaken us all, and changed the way we work, perhaps permanently. Here at Studio idir, we’re thinking of and praying for all our clients and collaborators and their loved ones, hoping they make it through this challenging time. All of our jobs on-site are rightly on hold, but we are thankful we have lots to be getting on with, so we’re all safely shacked up in our houses, working away around our own health needs and family commitments. It’s all a bit mad, but we’re making it work! We may not answer our phones as quickly, and we may respond to your emails at ungodly hours, but we are still here, doing what we do. If this extended period of time in your home is giving you all sorts of ideas about ways in which you’d like to extend it or make it work better for you, then feel free to give us a shout to arrange a virtual consultation with Aisling, and we’ll see if we can help.
2020 Ask an Architect
1st April 2020
Aisling is again taking place in the wonderful Ask An Architect initiative this year, and has already had 5 of her 6 consultations booked up. She has one consultation remaining, which she is offering to carry out virtually, on video call from her home to yours, or in person at our office once the lockdown lifts. Book here for a one hour consultation in which you can discuss any architectural queries you may have about design ideas, spatial problems or the process and costs involved, with no strings attached, in exchange for a £40 donation to Friends of the Cancer Centre.
Ask an Architect Salon
17th March 2020
On Tuesday 11 March, RSUA Women in Architecture held an Ask An Architect Salon at the Sunflower bar, raising funds for Friends of the Cancer Centre. Over a drink and a slice of pizza, questions from the floor were expertly fielded by our lisarious host, Martina McKnight, for our esteemed panel of 7 Northern Ireland architects. Their range of expertise crossed domestic and commercial work, urban and rural work, conservation, academic research, a selection of which was on display on the walls. The conversation ranged from practical advice for home-owners, to philosophical musings on the gendered nature of the city, and many laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes about life as an architect. There have been several requests to repeat the event, so perhaps we’ll see you there next year!
Say hi to Daisy
13th March 2020
Studio idir and Starling Start recently carried out a piece of community engagement work, hiring a vintage yellow camper van to travel around the two sides of a Belfast interface and talk to local residents about their views on the wall, discussing our ideas with them through models and drawings, and making things with the kids. We all loved and learned so much from the experience. More details to follow when the project wraps up.
Thumbs up for Graeme
6th March 2020
In February, we welcomed Graeme Gowdy to the Studio idir team, and he’s busy catering to all our technical detailing and Building Control needs (not to mention campervan driving, see above!) – head on over to the People page to read all about him.
