We are a design led practice working at the intersection of contemporary design and creative conservation; and we are passionate about great buildings and places of all ages. When buildings sit comfortably within their historical, social and cultural contexts, they present an architecture that embodies the spirit of the society that created them. Every project is an open conversation; every site and brief unique, and our design responses acknowledge this. We seek to turn perceived constraints into unexpected opportunities by making the maximum use of what exists, be it - context, existing fabric, climate, prospect or sun path. Our buildings are tailored to the people who will use them whilst our holistic approach to sustainability enhances the building performance and contributes to the well-being of people and planet alike. We aim to achieve a sense of timelessness in our buildings, by using materials that wear well, to provide qualities of richness and resonance that will endure. 
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Working openly and collaboratively allows us to manage a wide range of projects of different scales. These range from urban regeneration; through private and public housing including one-off houses, to civic, commercial, cultural, education and master planning projects. Regardless of their scale, our projects are always sensitive to context and place; considerate of form, materials and detail; welcoming, practical and beautiful.

Conservation is an artform that concerns aesthetics and design, as with any new building. Our creative approach to conservation is centred on our belief that change is continuous, and buildings are effectively ‘alive’ and resilient enough to evolve over time to serve new viable purposes. Skilful design, coupled with a scholarly understanding of history and significance is essential to deliver sensitive interventions that will sit comfortably within or beside historic fabric. Sometimes radical intervention is necessary, to add new layers of meaning, or to remove damaging accretions applied previously. If guided by an understanding of history and significance, and designed sensitively to respect these inherent qualities, the ‘aesthetics of age’ will be preserved and the building given new meaningful purpose. Conservation is also an act of sustainability, both in terms of retaining the energy embodied within a building while preserving the ‘sense of place’ it engenders.
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Our working mantra is to do “as little as possible but as much as is necessary” to ensure appropriate protection to historic buildings and places, while creating opportunities and imaginative design solutions for our clients. Good design can often unlock an old and redundant building, by reimagining the building within the changing uses of the twenty first century. Our conservation work covers a wide range of historic buildings and places, many of national and international cultural significance, ranging in date from the twelfth century to the twentieth century.

Through our heritage consultancy team we provide expert advice to support clients who wish to revitalise historic buildings and places, often within larger projects. This team provides creative and practical guidance on how to balance conservation with development in sensitive receiving environments, and how best to manage change following internationally accepted conservation guidelines. We begin by carrying out rigorous archival research and analysis to identify what is significant about a building or place. Then we list potential opportunities for improvements; guide interventions; and provide strategic advice throughout the design and planning processes. Drawing support from the skills and experience of our wider studio ensures that our advice is focussed and effective, whether engaging with interested stakeholders, funders, planners, grant givers, opinion formers or decision-makers.
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We work with a diverse range of clients, including - state bodies; local authorities; other architectural practices; industrialists; developers; and individual owners of protected structures. Our work includes the provision of - masterplans; conservation plans; feasibility studies; strategic analysis; heritage planning advice; statements of significance; heritage impact assessments; pre-application negotiations with planning authorities; and other interested heritage groups. Recent clients include – the Office of Public Works; the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht; the Archdiocese of Dublin; Diageo PLC; Leibherr International; Portwest; Cairn Homes; Marlet; the Law Society of Ireland; Dublin City Council, the Guardians and Governors of Marsh’s Library; the Dean and Chapter of St Patrick’s Cathedral; and many other churches and local authorities.