Architectural Farm is a design focused architectural studio based in Dublin. The studio has been led by Shane Cotter and Kathryn Wilson since 2010.
Studio
To date the practice has worked on a variety of projects specialising in residential and public commissions in both urban and rural settings but also have collaborated on retail, commercial and landscaping projects. Much of our current work deals with extending and reimagining existing spaces, varying in age from 10 to over 100 years old, and this naturally puts existing place, space and materials at the heart of our design development. The tangible presence of craftsmanship, materiality and atmosphere in each house informs our approach to each project.
Architectural Farm has been published and exhibited both domestically and internationally and have been included in Wallpaper* magazine’s 2014 Architects Directory, selected as one of 20 of ‘the world’s best young architectural talents’. The practice was highly commended in the Emerging Practice category and commended the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 2014, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2025 and were winners of The Royal Hibernian Academy Arthur Gibney Award for Architectural Content in any medium 2015.
We believe that engaging with the wider public should form an essential part of any practice and as We have been enthusiastic participants in the Irish Architecture Foundation National Architects in Schools Initiative and Open House Dublin. Drawing and sketching forms an important part in the life of the studio, we have used this love of drawing, in collaboration with Michael Carroll of Horgan Carroll Architects via the Draw Programme, to introduce architecture to school children by inviting students to take time to observe and draw the built environment around them.
We believe that good architecture is a collaborative process and we have been fortunate to have worked with some great craftspeople and clients whose trust and courage is a constant inspiration.
Architectural Farm is a registered practice with the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland.
Team
Shane Cotter
Shane is a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. Shane began studying architectural technology in Cork Institute of Technology and architecture at Kent Institute of Art and Design in Canterbury, UK and Queens University, Belfast.
Shane has gained over 25 years experience in a broad range of experience leading projects of varying scale and typologies from domestic, commercial, conservation and retail projects in Ireland, UK, Australia to large infrastructure, office and transport projects in Norway.
Shane is also an Architect Accredited in Conservation at Grade III (RIAI).
Kathryn Wilson
Kathryn has gained over 25 years experience worked in various practices in Dublin, UK and Australia. She brings broad experience in construction and regulations from a range of projects and scales including: Social housing, apartment, office, residential and refurbishment projects.
Kathryn is RIAI PSDP Accredited (Project Supervisor Design Process) and has achieved a Certificate in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) from TU Dublin.
Martin Nolan
Martin Nolan studied architecture at University College Dublin and the Aarhus School of Architecture, graduating in 2020.
He is a member of the RIAI and a passionate architect with a particular interest in detail-driven design and creative conservation.
Martin has gained experience across multi-unit residential developments, as well as high-end residential refurbishment projects in Ireland and internationally.
Jessica Howard
Jessica studied Architecture at the University of Limerick, where her thesis received a Special Mention in the RIAI Student Awards and explored a framework for mass timber construction and the application of engineered timber manufacturing within an Irish context.
Prior to joining AF, she gained experience on a range of commercial and residential projects in Ireland and high-end interior design in Australia.
Jessica has a particular interest in the relationship between interior environments, materiality, and architectural form, with a strong appreciation for detailed design.
Past
Alia McGurrin / Bébhinn Smith / Cliona Gallagher / Cormac O’Mahoney / Jack Donovan / Juliette Cottereau / Karen Tighe / Kevin Quinlan