We make beautiful buildings that are simple and modest, creating spaces which enrich people’s lives.

We aspire to qualities of relaxed restraint and quiet beauty which often means simplifying and paring back to find the essence of a problem or the core of an architectural idea.

We focus on movement and function; light and the position of the sun; materials and the way they make us feel; the connections between inside and out. We delight in construction detail, and we love practical, natural and sustainable materials.

Our first project was our own self-built house where we acted as architect, client and builder. This was an invaluable experience and taught us how it feels to be the client. Henceforth we haven’t taken the budget lightly or for granted, and we live the project alongside our clients.

We positively enjoy grappling with new ideas and difficult problems, and we’re always keen to work with clients who challenge us. We started our practice by working on small projects, exhibitions, new houses and extensions; but as the practice grows, so our work is also growing in scale and ambition.

One thing hasn’t changed: whatever the project and whatever the scale, we work with enthusiasm, purpose and commitment to create buildings which people respond to instinctively, feel at home in, and enjoy.

Awards

2023

WINNER

Scottish Design Awards Gold: Greyfriars Charteris Centre

2023

shortlisted

2023

shortlisted

2023

longlisted

RIBAJournal MacEwen Award: Greyfriars Charteris Centre

2022

shortlisted

2022

COMMENDATION

EAA Large Project Award: Greyfriars Charteris Centre

2022

COMMENDATION

EAA Small Project Award: Grange Garage Studio

2022

WINNER

Timber Award RIAS: Lockerbie Sawmill

2022

WINNER

2022

shortlisted

RIAS Doolan Award: Lockerbie Sawmill

2021

GRAND PRIX

Scottish Design Awards: Lockerbie Sawmill

2021

WINNER

Scottish Design Awards: Lockerbie Sawmill

2021

WINNER

EAA Wood for Good: Lockerbie Sawmill

2021

shortlisted

Wood Awards: Lockerbie Sawmill

2019

WINNER

EAA Small Projects Award: Blackford Road

2019

shortlisted

EAA Small Projects Award: Jessfield Terrace

2017

shortlisted

RIAS Wood for Good Award: Pop Up Edinburgh

2017

COMMENDED

RIAS Special Conservation Award: Comielaw

2017

COMMENDATION

Saltire Housing Award: Ravelston Dykes Lane

2017

WINNER

EAA Small Projects Award: Ravelston Dykes Lane

2017

shortlisted

EAA Wood Award: Pop Up Edinburgh

2017

shortlisted

EAA Ambassador Award: Comielaw

2017

shortlisted

RIBA Journal MacEwen Award: Comielaw

2016

Shortlisted

Creative Edinburgh City Award: Edinburgh Pavilion

2016

COMMENDATION

Saltire Housing Award: Sunken Extension

2016

shortlisted

AJ Small Projects: Sunken Extension

2016

shortlisted

EAA Small Projects: The Causeway

2015

WINNER

2014

shortlisted

AJ Small Projects: Regent Street Dormer

2014

shortlisted

EAA Small Projects: Rosefield Avenue

2011

shortlisted

AJ Small Projects: Bath Street Window

2011

COMMENDATION

Saltire Housing Award: Bath Street Window

2011

shortlisted

EAA Small Projects Award: Bath Street Window

2010

WINNER

EAA Small Projects Award: Japanese House

2010

shortlisted

Saltire Housing Award: Japanese House

Competitions

2023

WINNER

Queen's Hall: Frontage redesign

2023

Shortlisted

Loch Lomond RSPB: Visitor centre

2019

WINNER

Silecroft Beach Cafe: Beach Cafe Cumbria

2017

WINNER

Greyfriars Charteris Centre: Church Refurbishment

2017

WINNER

James Jones Visitor Centre: James Jones Lockerbie

2016

WINNER

EAA Pop Up Cities Expo: Edinburgh Pavilion

2015

Shortlisted

RIBA Neighbourhoods new Home: Brighton Housing

2014

Invited shortlist

18 unit housing scheme: Malmo Quay

2014

Invited shortlist

Heriot Village Hall competition: Heriot Village Hall

2013

Shortlisted

National Organ Donor sculpture competition:

2012

WINNER

Above Scotland exhibition design competition: Above Scotland

2012

Shortlisted

Peabody 150 years housing competition: London Peabody 1

2011

WINNER

A future for rural communities: Kilcreggan

Exhibitions

2020

May

Royal Scottish Academy of Arts & Architecture

2019

June

Royal Scottish Academy of Arts & Architecture

2017

May

Royal Scottish Academy of Arts & Architecture

2017

May

RIAS, EAA Awards exhibition

2016

July / August

Pop Up Pavilion: Edinburgh, World Cities Expo

2016

June

RIAS ideal hut exhibition

2016

March

New London Architecture, AJ Awards exhibition

2014

November

Royal Scottish Academy of Arts & Architecture

2013

November

Royal Scottish Academy of Arts & Architecture

2013

April

Royal Scottish Academy of Arts & Architecture

2012

November

Royal Scottish Academy of Arts & Architecture

2012

May

New London Architecture, Peabody Housing competition

2012

March

Architecture Foundation, Peckham Charette proposal

2011

June

Art of Leith, Group Show at Out of the Blue

2011

June

RIAS, EAA Awards exhibition

2010

May

RIAS, EAA Awards exhibition

Photo of Kieran Gaffney

Kieran Gaffney FRSA

Kieran trained at Strathclyde University and University College London graduating in 1992 and 1998 respectively before qualifying as an ARB / RIBA / RIAS accredited architect in 2003. He spent the first 4 years of his life Zambia, where his parents were teaching, and then grew up in Scotland; his international outlook continued with many years working overseas; in the USA, Zimbabwe, London, Berlin and Tokyo along with a period studying in Florence.

Moving back to the UK in 2007 Kieran self-built his own family house in Portobello before setting up Konishi Gaffney Architects in 2009. Having worked on a variety of creative and artist-led projects including six years in London working with Thomas Heatherwick on public art commissions he continues to collaborate with artists and makers on projects around the fields of art, landscape & architecture.

Kieran is a Fellow of the RSA and has sat as trustee on the boards of the RIAS, the EAA (twice) and Art in Healthcare. He has been invited critic at Edinburgh, Strathclyde and Aberdeen Universities and has lectured in Brighton, London, Stuttgart and at all of the Scottish Universities.

Kieran has three teenage children, Mika, Kiku and Kaz’ma all dual Japanese-British citizens.

 

Great things are never done by one person but by teams. Kieran is proud to have worked with some talented young architects who have enriched our practice and improved the quality of our work.

Adam Williams

Adam Williams

Katie Hamilton

Daniel Yanez-Cunningham

Daniel Yanez-Cunningham

Naomi De Barr

Katherine Tynan

Katherine Tynan

Ivan Fraile-Gisbert

Rebecca Goodson

Rebecca Goodson

Marianne Jørgensen

Marianne Jørgensen

Erin Durno

Erin Durno

Fraser McQuade

Fraser McQuade

James Falconer

James Falconer

Eileen Hall

Eileen Hall

Frazer Haviz

Frazer Haviz

Work for us

March 2024

Konishi Gaffney are seeking a part 2 architecture graduate (or recent part 3) to join our team. Ideally with 2+ years of experience. Currently a small team but looking to expand, we work at all scales of architecture with recent projects ranging from a £30,000 garage extension to a £2M church conversion.

The right candidate will work on a wide range of projects across different projects stages, and we collaborate both in-house and with other design disciplines. We think we offer great experience for ambitious architects and provide encouragement & support for students working towards their part 3.

We are an equal opportunities employer and particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, or other minority ethnic groups, or those who continue to be underrepresented within the architectural profession.

If you are interested in working with us, please send us your CV by email with a few examples of your work in PDF format (<12mb) to:

jobs at konishigaffney.com

 

 

Contact

Konishi Gaffney Architects
88 Constitution Street
Edinburgh, EH6 6RP

Get directions

0131 555 4939
info@konishigaffney.com