Ann Nisbet Studio

Ann Nisbet Studio is a Scottish Architecture and Design Studio specialising in Rural Architecture and Master Planning, Residential Projects, Community Engagement Projects and Installations. The studio works throughout Scotland and the UK with a particular focus on Ayrshire and Arran, Angus, Argyll and Bute and the Highlands and Islands.

Director Ann Nisbet is an Award Winning ARB registered Architect, a member of the Royal Incorporation of Architects of Scotland (RIAS), a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and a Board Member of the Scottish Ecological Design Association. Prior to establishing the practice, she was a Principle at Dualchas Architects. She has over 13 years experience of working on rural  and urban Architecture projects on the west coast and throughout Scotland.

She has worked on many projects on Scottish Islands including Isle of Skye, Isle of Coll, Isle of Tiree, Harris and Lewis. This has given her specialist knowledge in understanding the requirements and logistics of designing and constructing buildings in these environments.

The practice provides a strong client service, with each project being unique and developed through a research led response to the site, the brief, the budget and an on going dialogue with the client. Throughout this process, innovative ideas are conceived, tested and communicated through sketches, drawings,  models and 3D models.

We have a long standing working relationship with other members of the design team such as Structural Engineers, Quanity Surveys, Drainage Engineers, and Planning Consultants thus ensuring an excellent service from every aspect of the team.

The Team

Our studio was was founded in late 2013 by Architect, Ann Nisbet. Since then we have grown to form a four-strong team working from our design studio in Glasgow, on projects across Scotland and wider UK.

Ann Nisbet Bsc(Hons) M.Arch ARB RIAS RIBA
Director /  Architect

Originally from the West Coast Highlands, Ann studied at Strathclyde School of Architecture, graduating with a Bsc (Hons) In Architecture, in 2001. She worked at an award winning Architecture Practice in Toronto, before returning to complete her Masters of Architecture at Strathclyde School of Architecture, graduating with distinction and winning the Professor’s Award for Design Excellence.

In 2004, she moved to the Isle of Skye to work with Dualchas Architects, after two years on Skye, she returned to Glasgow to establish their mainland office. She was Principal Architect there until Autumn 2011. During this period, she worked on many rural housing and community projects throughout Scotland and it’s islands, winning several awards for her work,  including the Grand Prix Award and Residential Award at the 2008 Rose Design Awards.

Ann co-founded Edo Architecture, a small Architecture and research studio, which undertook several community based projects, over a period of 18 months. These included Everybody’s House and the Ghost of Water Row, a community architectural installation, which won an RIAS award and was runner up in the prestigious Andrew Doolan Awards for Best Building in Scotland in 2013

She formally established Ann Nisbet Studio in late 2013. The studio’s first major project Newhouse of Auchengree, which was completed in 2015, won several awards including the GIA Supreme Architecture Award, a Scottish Award for Quality in Planning, RIAS Award and a RIBA National Award. The project was also shortlisted for RIBA House of the Year.  In 2017, Ann was a finalist for ‘RIAS Emerging Architect of the Year’ and nominated as one of ‘five to watch in 2018′ by the Architects’ Journal

Ann is an ARB registered Architect, a member of the Royal Incorporation of Architects of Scotland (RIAS) and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). She is also a Director  of  the Scottish Ecological Design Association and a board member of the Langside Halls Trust.

Fay Goodwin BSc (Hons) DipArch
Architect

Fay graduated with a First-Class BSc (Hons) In Architecture in 2015 from Strathclyde Architecture School. She worked as a RIBA Part I Architectural Assistant at Anderson Associates in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, where she developed a strong interest in rural architecture, landscape and place. In 2016 she returned to Strathclyde graduating from their ‘Advanced Architectural Design’ programme with a Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction.

Fay’s work, both in education and in practice, has been founded in an understanding of place; an approach which aims to create architecture that draws on local history, landscape, culture and microclimate.

Fay is currently working towards her Passivhaus Designer accreditation.

Aoife Nolan Bsc(Hons) M.Arch
Part II Architectural Assistant

Aoife completed a BA (Hons) in Visual Art at Watford Institute of Technology, Ireland before studying Architecture. In 2018, She graduated from the University of Strathclyde with First-Class Honours and then worked with Michael Collins Architects in Dublin. In 2019, Aoife founded a Glasgow-based architecture magazine that encourages critical reflection on the discipline. Since then, Aoife has completed her Masters in Architecture. Her thesis explored changes in the rural built environment through planning systems.

Her interests bring together localism, old vs. new, community engagement and ultimately; research around how to design for a sustainable countryside.

Agne Jagelaite BSc (Hons)
Part II Architectural Assistant

Agne studied Architecture at ‘Vilnuis Gabija Technical University’ and ‘Strathclyde Architecture School’.  Following completion of her 3rd year of Architecture, Agne joined Groves-Raines Architects as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant for a year. She graduated from ‘Strathclyde Architecture School’ with a Masters with Distinction. She joined Ann Nisbet Studio in summer 2020 and is currently working towards her Part Three Professional Practice Examinations.

During Agne’s studies, she developed an interest in the interrelation of architecture and society, as well as sustainability, conservation and rural architecture.

Collaborators

We work with a series of collaborators on a project by project basis.

Joshua Brown has collaborated on a number of projects including the ‘Propping Through Riverside’ Installation and the ‘Ghost of Water Row’ installation. Currently we are working together on a research project entitled ‘COMMOC Collective’ that looks at ideas surrounding ‘Community of Making, Making of Community.

Past Collaborators

Jake Woods
Jenny Barr
Liam O Shea

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AWARDS

We are delighted the studio has been a recipient of several prestigious awards and accolades over the last few years. Our work has also featured in a number of national and international publications in print and digitally.

– 2022: GIA Residential Award: Cuddymoss, Ayrshire
– 2022: GIA Sustainability Award: Cuddymoss, Ayrshire – Shortlist

– 2021: RIAS: RIAS Award for Architecture: Altarf, Isle of Skye

– 2020: Scottish Design Awards: Altarf, Isle of Skye – Shortlisted
– 2020: GIA Small Works Award:Altarf, Isle of Skye – Shortlisted

– 2019: GIA Small Works Award – Commendation: Albert Drive Renovation

– 2017: RIBA House of the Year – Shortlisted
– 2017: Andrew Doolan Award for Best Building in Scotland – Shortlisted
– 2017: RIAS Emerging Architect of the Year – Finalist
– 2017: Saltire Housing Design Award: Newhouse of Auchengree, North Ayrshire
– 2017: RIBA National Award: Newhouse of Auchengree, North Ayrshire
– 2017: RIAS Architecture Award: Newhouse of Auchengree, North Ayrshire
– 2017: Best Residential Building; Scottish Design Awards: Newhouse of Auchengree

– 2016: Doors Open Day Award for Excellence: Crossmyloof Bakery Tour in Collaboration with Glad Cafe
– 2016: GIA Supreme Award: Newhouse of Auchengree, North Ayrshire
– 2016: GIA Residential Award: Newhouse of Auchengree, North Ayrshire
– 2016: Scottish Quality Planning Award – Place Making

– 2013: Andrew Doolan Award for Best Building In Scotland – Runner Up
– 2013: RIAS Architecture Award – Ghost of Water Row, Govan, Glasgow
– 2013: Arts and Business Scotland, Shortlisted Community Project Award

– 2011: Arts and Business Scotland, Shortlist – Propping Through Riverside

– 2008:Rose Design Award, Grand Prix Architecture Award
– 2008: Rose Design Award, Gold Medal  Award For Low Cost Residential

– 2006: Inverness Architectural Association – Regional Commended

and Bute and the Highlands and Islands.