idir, the irish word for between, reflects a philosophy of collaboration, and celebrates the meeting of difference, such as old with new, inside with out, contrasting materialities – always seeking out new opportunity in the spaces between.
We are an award-winning, female-led, architectural practice, with research and expertise in Passivhaus Design, conservation and creative placemaking. With an office in Belfast and Dublin, we work on projects across Ireland and beyond.
We love working with clients to find design solutions to spatial problems. We enjoy crafting new buildings, and working sensitively with old or listed ones. We help maximise the potential of sites and spaces. We create beautiful homes that enrich your everyday life.
Aisling Shannon Rusk
Aisling studied Art in Manchester before completing her studies in Architecture (with first class honours) in Aberdeen and Cardiff, where her award-winning student work was twice shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Presidents Medals.
She has worked in London, Edinburgh, New Zealand and Belfast projects with a range of scales. Prior to establishing Studio Idir she built her reputation locally undertaking a number of widely-published residential projects as a sole practitioner.
Her PhD investigated spatial practices that build connection within the divided contexts of Palestine/Israel and Northern Ireland. She teaches MArch at QUB in the Streetspace Studio with Agustina Martire, is the inaugural chair of RSUA Women in Architecture and sits on the RIBA Validation Panel.
Aisling was selected as one of the Architect’s Journal’s 40 architects under 40 in 2020.
She lives in East Belfast with her husband and three children.
We work across Ireland and the United Kingdom at a wide range of scales, from residential extensions and newbuild houses to creative placemaking at the urban scale and £2 million+ commercial developments. We embrace the challenge of working within constraints, such as complex sites, restrictive planning policy and conditions, or retrofitting old buildings with passive principles.
Whether the project is for a private, public or a commercial client, at a large or small scale, our approach is the same: applying creative thinking to the spatial requirements and aspirations of our clients.
Mourne yoga offers a variety of classes to improve mobility and wellbeing from their base on a rural County Down homestead. Studio idir worked with them to transform and extend some old stone farm buildings into the Goat House Retreat, for yoga retreats and associated activities and events.
Starling Start co-designs inclusive and ambitious strategic plans, blueprints, or approaches that guide cultural development; and dreams up and develops magical one off gatherings and sustained programmes that are guided by people and place. Studio idir and Starling Start frequently collaborate on creative place-making projects, such as 9ft in Common and Banbridge
Michael and Gillian welcome visitors to share in their wild little corner of Ireland at Finn Lough, providing a place of quiet calm in this ever moving world. Finn Lough is a luxury hideaway resort. Studio idir have been as their design partners in preparing a masterplan for the future development of the resort, including extending their accommodation, spa offerings and renewable technologies.
Paperxclips is an independent, queer-owned and operated bookshop, barbershop, coffee shop and community space in Belfast. They do their best to make this place a home for the queer community of Northern Ireland, and a place where all can find comfort and community. Studio idir is working with Paperxclips on approvals for their new city centre space.
Laurelbank Farm is a community interest company focused on growing, based in a Co.Down homestead. Their vision is to reconnect people to the land, and to nourish and empower people through farming and feasting. Their mission is to create an inspiring and thriving small-scale regenerative, organic farm. Studio idir designed their catering and event space. Laurelbank is a creative partner on our 9ft in Common project, exploring the food growing potential of Belfast alleyways.
From boutique eco-cabins to scalable modular container buildings, Intu modular creates memorable, functional spaces that are faster to deploy, easier to maintain, and built to last. Studio idir are working on barrel-shaped, pre-fabricated luxury glamping pods with Intu Modular.
In 2025 Studio idir worked on two multi-disciplinary projects with WCC: the RIAI Town Challenge award for Arklow Tidy Towns; and the Black Castle Public Realm Enhancement Project. Read more about them on the WCC website or RIAI Working with your town and neighbourhood page.
Áine studied Architecture in University College Dublin, graduating with Honours in 1996. She has worked for architectural practices in Dublin, Berlin and Belfast, including de Paor Architects, de Blacam & Meagher Architects, and O’Briain Beary Architects where she consolidated practical skills of working on larger scale healthcare and residential projects. Following a career break (to raise her three children), Áine worked as a sole practitioner on small scale domestic projects while also teaching at the School of Architecture at Queen’s University, where she still contributes as a studio tutor. Before joining Studio idir, she worked at the award winning practice McGonigle McGrath in Belfast, gaining valuable experience in carefully delivering high design quality private dwellings, extensions and refurbishments.
Graeme studied the Built Environment with Information Technology at North Down and Ards Institute. He has 20 years of experience working in architecture, gaining extensive knowledge on a wide variety of projects and sectors. Graeme began his career in Ostick and Williams Architects working on high-end pharmaceutical, educational and large retail projects throughout Ireland, then moved to New Zealand to work on a range of fit-out and timber-frame projects. On returning home he ran his own consultancy firm for 6 years before working with Calico Architects before joining Studio idir in 2020. In 2023, Graeme gained his Passive House Designer Certificate. He lives in the heart of the Ards Peninsula with his wife and young family. He has a strong passion for sport and is a keen follower of Ireland and Ulster rugby teams.
Katie studied architecture at the University of Bath and Queen’s University Belfast, and went on to work for practices across Bath, Bristol and Belfast before being welcomed into Studio Idir in 2019, and completing her Part 3 qualifications in 2020. Katie has experience leading and contributing to the design and delivery of residential, public realm, conservation and educational projects, as well as community engagement research. She has also provided illustrative and visualisation skills to a number of personal and work projects, and in 2023 gained her Passivhaus Designer Certificate. In 2025, Katie was awarded the RSUA and BAYA Rising Star awards.
Liam studied at University College Cork where he was also awarded a scholarship to attend Washington State University during his third year studies. Liam spent the next two years working for PBA Architects in his home city of Kilkenny, gaining critical knowledge and experience. He completed his masters of architecture at Queen’s University Belfast (with first class honours) where he developed a keen interest in conservation and rural architecture. Liam’s MArch thesis stemmed from his research into rural heritage and was based in Mount Stewart Estate. He was awarded the Charles Lanyon Memorial Prize and HERoNI ‘measured architectural drawing of the year’ award. In 2024 Liam passed his Part 3 exams.
Emma graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with First Class Honours in June 2025. Her final undergraduate project included testing hempcrete and exploring its acoustic capabilities through the design of a centre for Irish music. Emma is passionate about architecture that priorities craftsmanship, structural honesty and placemaking, creating spaces which offer people a sense of belonging. She was awarded the QUB Undergraduate Writing Prize for her research examining how architecture has reinforced institutionalised segregation in Belfast. Alongside architecture, Emma is a keen photographer and enjoys all things musical!
Beth graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2024 with First Class Honours, exploring reuse and community within her student work. Since graduating, Beth has gained practical experience in construction, contributing hands-on to several community-led projects across Germany and Finland. Beth is passionate about architecture that enhances people’s everyday experience, and completed a short internship with the id22 Institute and Cohousing Berlin in 2025. In her free time, she enjoys painting streetscapes in oil, capturing both Belfast and far-away places from her travels.
