Ann Nisbet Studio is an award winning Scottish Architecture and Design Studio that works across Scotland and UK. The studio was established in 2013 by Director Ann Nisbet. The studio specialises in rural and island architecture; including residential projects, master planning, and community projects. Our work is informed by landscape, local history/context, climate and people.

Over the last few years, the studio has undertaken a number of urban housing projects including individual houses and larger scale housing projects, such as our Dundashill project in Glasgow.

We have worked throughout Scotland and it’s islands including Isle of Skye, Isle of Coll, Isle of Tiree, Arran, Harris and Lewis. This has given us specialist knowledge in understanding the requirements and logistics of designing and constructing buildings in rural and island sites.

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, Quantity 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.

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, 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. In 2021, she was made an Academician of the Royal Scottish Academy.

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. Fay graduated from Strathclyde University with a Postgraduate Diploma in Architecture and joined Ann Nisbet Studio in 2018 , her 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’s commitment to quality design and her dedication to environmentally responsible architecture led her to take on the role of Project Architect for the Glendale: Harmless House Project. This role further honed her skills in designing sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings. Currently, Fay is actively working towards obtaining her Passivhaus Designer accreditation, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to incorporating energy-efficient and sustainable design principles into her work.

Outside of work, Fay enjoys cooking and discovering new restaurants, cafes, and farm shops. On weekends, she spends time outdoors with her dog, Fitz, going on walks along the coast or in the hills.

Cathy Houston BSc (Hons) DipArch
Associate Architect

Cathy is an architect and designer with over twenty years of experience in housing, community, and culture and art projects. She has developed many specialisms including lighting design, inclusive design, and placemaking through community empowerment. She was awarded Architect of the Year at the Women in Construction Awards in 2012.

Before joining Ann Nisbet Studio, Cathy spent nearly twenty years with Collective Architecture, where she worked on a variety of projects throughout Scotland. Alongside community housing projects, she has been lead Architect on significant cultural projects, such as the Glasgow Women’s Library and the Peterhead Cultural Quarter.

She has completed a Post-graduate Certificate in Advanced Sustainable Design at Edinburgh University and has taught at Glasgow School of Art and most recently at Newcastle University, where she has been a Part 3 examiner for those taking their final exams to qualify as an architect.

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.

Past Collaborators

Agne Jagelaite
Jake Woods
Jenny Barr
Liam O Shea

AWARDS

We are truly delighted and honored that Ann Nisbet Studio has received several prestigious awards and accolades over the past few years. These recognitions serve as a testament to the dedication and talent of our team, as well as the innovative and thoughtful approach we bring to each project.

We are immensely grateful to our clients and collaborators who have entrusted us with their projects and allowed us to bring our shared vision to life. Their support, trust and collaboration have been instrumental in achieving these accolades. –

2023

– 2023: Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award
– 2023: Dezeen Award: Rural House (International Award) – Longlist

– 2023: Saltire Society Housing Award – Harmless House, Stirling

– 2023: RIBA National Architecture Award, Cuddymoss, Ayrshire
– 2023: RIAS Architecture Award: Cuddymoss, Ayrshire

– 2023: RIAS Circular Economy Award, Cuddymoss, Ayrshire
– 2023: Scottish Design Awards: Retrofit Award – Shortlist – Cuddymoss, Ayrshire

– 2023: Scottish Design Awards: Silver Residential Award: Harmless House, Stirling
– 2023: Stirling Society of Architects Award for Best New Build: Harmless House, Stirling

2022

– 2022: GIA Residential Award: Cuddymoss, Ayrshire – Winner
– 2022: GIA Sustainability Award: Cuddymoss, Ayrshire – Finalist

2021

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

2020

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

2019

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

2017

– 2017: RIBA House of the Year – Shortlisted
– 2017: Andrew Doolan Award for Best Building in Scotland – Finalist
– 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

– 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

– 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