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.
Team
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
2025 | Shortlisted | AJ Leisure Building Awards | Silecroft Beach Cafe |
2025 | Shortlisted | Scottish Design Awards | Silecroft Beach Cafe |
2025 | Shortlisted | Scottish Design Awards | Glenelg Highland Houses |
2024 | Shortlisted | EAA Small Project Award | Liberton Drive |
2023 | Winner | Scottish Design Awards | Greyfriars Charteris Centre |
2023 | Shortlisted | RIAS Awards | Greyfriars Charteris Centre |
2023 | Shortlisted | AJ Retrofit Awards | Greyfriars Charteris Centre |
2023 | Longlisted | RIBAJ MacEwen Award | Greyfriars Charteris Centre |
2022 | Shortlisted | Wood Awards | Greyfriars Charteris Centre |
2022 | Commendation | EAA Large Project Award | Greyfriars Charteris Centre |
2022 | Commendation | EAA Small Project Award | Larch-Clad Artist's Studio |
2022 | Winner | RIAS Timber Award | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2022 | Winner | RIAS Award | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2022 | Shortlisted | RIAS Doolan Award | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2021 | Grand Prix | Scottish Design Awards | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2021 | Winner | Scottish Design Awards | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2021 | Winner | EAA Wood for Good | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2021 | Shortlisted | Wood Awards | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2019 | Winner | EAA Small Project Award | Georgian Home with Extension |
2019 | Shortlisted | EAA Small Project Award | Jessfield Terrace |
2017 | Shortlisted | RIAS Wood for Good Award | Pop Up Edinburgh |
2017 | Commended | RIAS Special Conservation | Comielaw Steading |
2017 | Commendation | Saltire Housing Award | Japanese-Inspired Retrofit |
2017 | Shortlisted | EAA Small Project Award | Japanese-Inspired Retrofit |
2017 | Winner | EAA Wood Award | Pop Up Edinburgh |
2016 | Shortlisted | Creative Edinburgh Award | Pop Up Edinburgh |
2016 | Commendation | Saltire Housing Award | Sunken Extension |
2016 | Shortlisted | AJ Small Projects | Sunken Extension |
2016 | Shortlisted | EAA Small Project Award | The Causeway |
2015 | Winner | RIAS Award | Regent Street Dormer |
2014 | Shortlisted | AJ Small Projects | Regent Street Dormer |
2014 | Shortlisted | EAA Small Project Award | Rosefield Avenue |
2011 | Shortlisted | AJ Small Projects | Bath Street Window |
2011 | Commendation | Saltire Housing Award | Bath Street Window |
2011 | Shortlisted | EAA Small Project Award | Bath Street Window |
2010 | Winner | EAA Small Project Award | Japanese House |
2010 | Winner | Saltire Housing Award | Japanese House |
Awards
Competitions
2024 | Shortlisted | RIAS Competition | Timespan Museum & Art Gallery |
2024 | Winner | Church Redesign | St. David’s, Bathgate |
2023 | Winner | Frontage Redesign | Queen’s Hall |
2023 | Shortlisted | Visitor Centre | RSPB Visitor Centre |
2019 | Winner | Cafe & Visitor Hub | Silecroft Cafe |
2017 | Winner | Church Refurbishment | Greyfriars Charteris Centre |
2017 | Winner | Visitor Centre | Sawmill Visitor Centre |
2016 | Winner | EAA Pop Up Cities Expo | Pop Up Edinburgh |
2015 | Shortlisted | RIBA Neighbourhoods | Brighton Housing |
2014 | Shortlisted | 18-Unit Housing Scheme | Malmo Quay |
2014 | Shortlisted | Village Hall | Heriot Village Hall |
2013 | Shortlisted | Sculpture | National Organ Donor |
2012 | Winner | Exhibition Design | Above Scotland |
2012 | Shortlisted | 150 Years Housing | London Peabody Association |
2011 | Winner | Future Rural Communities | Kilcreggan |