What we do
Konishi Gaffney are a leading Scottish architecture practice known for creating award-winning and impactful buildings. Drawing upon more than thirty years of experience working in the UK, Europe and Japan, we deliver cost-effective, sustainable architecture that balances rigour with invention and flair.

How we do it
We love how things are made and focus on movement and function, on light and the position of the sun; on materials and the way they make us feel and the connections between inside and out. We love practical, natural and sustainable materials and working in collaborative, friendly teams.

Recognition
Our work is widely recognized featuring in publications such as the AJ, Dezeen, RIBA Journal, and DETAIL. Konishi Gaffney have received all of Scotland’s major architecture prizes, including RIAS Awards, and the Grand Prix at the Scottish Design Awards. We have been twice shortlisted for the Doolan, for the best building in Scotland.

Seal of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland
Logo for Architects Registration Board with stylized building outline and the text 'Architects Registration Board' below.

Team

  • DipArch ARB RIBA RIAS FRSA
    Kieran studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL (1998) and the University of Strathclyde (winning the school design prize in 1992). He has worked in Berlin, Tokyo and London - where he helped to establish Heatherwick Studio – before returning to Scotland in 2009 to build his own house and launch Konishi Gaffney Architects.

    Kieran has long enjoyed an international outlook. Raised by teachers working in Zambia for his first few years and then in the Scottish new town of Livingston. Kieran studied in Florence (as an ERASMUS exchange) and has worked in the US & Zimbabwe, before his postgraduate studies.

    Kieran is a regular guest critic and has lectured at universities in Brighton, London and Stuttgart and at all of the Scottish universities. He writes for the architectural press and speaks about architecture and urban design in the media. As an ARB-registered architect and Fellow of the RSA he has also served as a trustee for The RIAS, Art in Healthcare and EAA.

    Kieran has three grown up Japanese / Scottish children who he is very proud of. He is a keen trail / mountain runner.

  • BA, MA(Arch), ARB

    Adam is an Associate and senior architect. He has led the design and delivery of numerous award-winning projects including the visitor centre at Lockerbie and the Charteris Community Centre.

    He is the research and technical lead having set up most of the office CAD systems and manages the output of other staff members as well as having a design overview of the practice workload.

    Adam studied architecture at Edinburgh University graduating with Honours in 2013 and then his Japan based Masters project in 2016. He started his career at Konishi Gaffney in 2013 and qualified as an Architect in 2025.

  • BA MA

    Katie is a senior part 2 architect currently sitting her RIBA Part 3 exams at Newcastle University.

    Katie brings technical and drawing expertise especially in 3D modelling which was the focus of her master’s thesis at Cork University in Ireland 2021.

    Katie joined Konishi Gaffney in early 2022 and has brought with her a natural talent for designer with a flair for unusual and imaginative solutions. She led a number of successful projects from design through construction.

    She is a fluent Irish speaker.

  • BA MA AAI

    Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the team, with 15 years experience working for design-led and internationally recognised practices in Dublin.

    After qualifying with a first-class degree from Dublin Institute of Technology, he has been teaching architecture at TU Dublin for 10 years.

    Having moved to Edinburgh in 2022 with his Scottish wife, Mike is an architecture studio tutor at Edinburgh University working with 1st, 2nd and 4th year students.

    Mike served on the board, including as President, of the Architectural Association of Ireland.

Achievements rarely come from individuals alone – they’re built through teamwork. We’re proud to have collaborated with a talented group of young architects whose contributions have strengthened our practice and raised the quality of our work:

Adele Josselin, Callum Bolger, Craig Mathers, Dana Cherepkova, Daniel Yanez-Cunningham, Eileen Hall, Erin Durno, Fraser McQuade, Frazer Haviz, Helena Cing, Ivan Fraile-Gisbert, James Falconer, Katherine Tynan, Marianne Jørgensen, Naomi De Barr, & Rebecca Goodson.

2025ShortlistedAJ Leisure Building AwardsSilecroft Beach Cafe
2025ShortlistedScottish Design AwardsSilecroft Beach Cafe
2025ShortlistedScottish Design AwardsGlenelg Highland Houses
2024ShortlistedEAA Small Project AwardLiberton Drive
2023WinnerScottish Design AwardsGreyfriars Charteris Centre
2023ShortlistedRIAS AwardsGreyfriars Charteris Centre
2023ShortlistedAJ Retrofit AwardsGreyfriars Charteris Centre
2023LonglistedRIBAJ MacEwen AwardGreyfriars Charteris Centre
2022ShortlistedWood AwardsGreyfriars Charteris Centre
2022CommendationEAA Large Project AwardGreyfriars Charteris Centre
2022CommendationEAA Small Project AwardLarch-Clad Artist's Studio
2022WinnerRIAS Timber AwardSawmill Visitor Centre
2022WinnerRIAS AwardSawmill Visitor Centre
2022ShortlistedRIAS Doolan AwardSawmill Visitor Centre
2021Grand PrixScottish Design AwardsSawmill Visitor Centre
2021WinnerScottish Design AwardsSawmill Visitor Centre
2021WinnerEAA Wood for GoodSawmill Visitor Centre
2021ShortlistedWood AwardsSawmill Visitor Centre
2019WinnerEAA Small Project AwardGeorgian Home with Extension
2019ShortlistedEAA Small Project AwardJessfield Terrace
2017ShortlistedRIAS Wood for Good AwardPop Up Edinburgh
2017CommendedRIAS Special ConservationComielaw Steading
2017CommendationSaltire Housing AwardJapanese-Inspired Retrofit
2017ShortlistedEAA Small Project AwardJapanese-Inspired Retrofit
2017WinnerEAA Wood AwardPop Up Edinburgh
2016ShortlistedCreative Edinburgh AwardPop Up Edinburgh
2016CommendationSaltire Housing AwardSunken Extension
2016ShortlistedAJ Small ProjectsSunken Extension
2016ShortlistedEAA Small Project AwardThe Causeway
2015WinnerRIAS AwardRegent Street Dormer
2014ShortlistedAJ Small ProjectsRegent Street Dormer
2014ShortlistedEAA Small Project AwardRosefield Avenue
2011ShortlistedAJ Small ProjectsBath Street Window
2011CommendationSaltire Housing AwardBath Street Window
2011ShortlistedEAA Small Project AwardBath Street Window
2010WinnerEAA Small Project AwardJapanese House
2010WinnerSaltire Housing AwardJapanese House

Awards

Competitions

2024ShortlistedRIAS CompetitionTimespan Museum & Art Gallery
2024WinnerChurch RedesignSt. David’s, Bathgate
2023WinnerFrontage RedesignQueen’s Hall
2023ShortlistedVisitor CentreRSPB Visitor Centre
2019WinnerCafe & Visitor HubSilecroft Cafe
2017WinnerChurch RefurbishmentGreyfriars Charteris Centre
2017WinnerVisitor CentreSawmill Visitor Centre
2016WinnerEAA Pop Up Cities ExpoPop Up Edinburgh
2015ShortlistedRIBA NeighbourhoodsBrighton Housing
2014Shortlisted18-Unit Housing SchemeMalmo Quay
2014ShortlistedVillage HallHeriot Village Hall
2013ShortlistedSculptureNational Organ Donor
2012WinnerExhibition DesignAbove Scotland
2012Shortlisted150 Years HousingLondon Peabody Association
2011WinnerFuture Rural CommunitiesKilcreggan