Studio Idir

Studio Idir Studio Idir is a small, design-led architecture practice that flourishes in the in-between. We are based in Belfast.

Our House of the Woods is on the cover of the current Selfbuild Ireland magazine. Did anyone get a copy?A tranquil, comp...
09/09/2026

Our House of the Woods is on the cover of the current Selfbuild Ireland magazine. Did anyone get a copy?

A tranquil, compact yet spacious new home that makes everyday life simple and enjoyable for its owners in their retirement, immersing them in the garden, views and surrounding nature that they so love.

Downsizing doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality of life - far from it! - or necessarily moving very far. Nor do you always have to move far. This site was carved out of the field behind our clients’ previous home.

If you have a site, or aspirations for one, and are considering a low-energy, high quality design, we would be pleased to hear from you!

Photos by Donal McCann
Built by Kudos Window Systems | Window & Door Specialists

featurehome family

Some news from the Studio! Aisling Rusk and Áine McEnoy were appointed in July to the new RSUA Design Quality Panel (202...
18/08/2026

Some news from the Studio! Aisling Rusk and Áine McEnoy were appointed in July to the new RSUA Design Quality Panel (2026–2030).

The panel brings together a peer-reviewed group of architects from across Northern Ireland to advocate for thoughtful, high-quality design - helping shape everything from early project briefs to design reviews and competitions over the next four years.

They’re among eight women on the 36-person panel, bringing a bit more gender balance to these discussions.

We know they will bring their experience and enthusiasm for design quality to the table, as they do to all of our projects.

RSUA

Aine McEnoy

We also designed a complementary addition at The Goat House Retreat that would provide guest accommodation for the yoga ...
11/08/2026

We also designed a complementary addition at The Goat House Retreat that would provide guest accommodation for the yoga and wellness retreats, and indeed anyone else who wishes - you can book to stay with them via their website!

This structure takes its form from the curved metal roofs of the larger farmyard barns on the site, and has been sized very carefully to have an overall height that is no greater than than the adjacent stone barn, a requirement from Planning. It is clad in black corrugated metal to blend in with surrounding buildings.

There are three en-suite bedrooms, each with their own access and their own unique character, one of which is accessible. The curved roof form can be enjoyed internally, too, gently arcing overhead. Two additional bedrooms have since been added in a ‘shepherd’s hut’, so that larger groups can be accommodated, and there is a gorgeous courtyard area and a hot tub that enjoys panoramic views of the Mourne Mountains. Plus you can join a Mourne Yoga class in an adjacent barn. What’s not to love?!

More information on the Works section of our website, too.

Beautifully built by Joseph McClune and Son Ltd. and photographed by Elyse Kennedy

mountainsofmourne

Our lovely clients Mourne Yoga The Goat House Retreat had a beautiful stone barn (several, in fact) and a vision to turn...
10/08/2026

Our lovely clients Mourne Yoga The Goat House Retreat had a beautiful stone barn (several, in fact) and a vision to turn this one into a communal gathering space for their wellness retreats.

These old stone buildings have so much character, they make our job as architects easy! It’s always a balancing act doing the right work to make the building thermally efficient and compliant with the building regulations, without losing the character.

We insulated the barn walls internally, leaving the beautiful stone carefully repointed and exposed externally, but we also left some select sections exposed internally, for example around the beautiful brick and stone window reveals, because it was too lovely to be covered up! Solar panels are barely noticeable on the new black corrugated metal roof. Doesn’t it look well?

Lovingly restored by Joseph McClune and Son Ltd. and beautifully photographed by Elyse Kennedy


One from the archive, transforming this beautiful old bank building, into the flagship HQ for M A V E N , a gorgeous fur...
03/07/2026

One from the archive, transforming this beautiful old bank building, into the flagship HQ for M A V E N , a gorgeous furniture and homeware store. Great to be involved in breathing new life into this little gem of a building, and collaborating with this Patricia and Catherine McGinnis Check out the inspiration image by our Katie stringer and the before photo, quite the transformation!

Great to receive planning permission for this new build house in a coastal location in Co Donegal, which nods to its pre...
26/06/2026

Great to receive planning permission for this new build house in a coastal location in Co Donegal, which nods to its predecessor boathouse origins. Lovely image collab by .arch and

23/06/2026

Whether you live here, work here, visit on weekends, or always call Inniskeen home—we want to hear from you!

If you had one idea for Inniskeen, for the next generation, what would it be?

Studio Idir and Monaghan County Council are teaming up to build the new Inniskeen Village Plan.

Our goal over the coming months is to listen to your stories, review what’s been proposed before, and map out real possibilities for the future. Your voice is the most important part of the puzzle.

Join the conversation:

- Where: Inniskeen Community Centre
- When: Thursday, 25 June
- Time: 7pm-9pm - presentation at 7:15, but call in anytime!

Pop in for an informal chat, share your ideas, find out more, and help shape the future of Inniskeen!

Your Council, Your Voice.

Studio idir is delighted to be working with InniskeenEnterpriseDevelop Monaghan County Council and the people of Innisk...
23/06/2026

Studio idir is delighted to be working with InniskeenEnterpriseDevelop Monaghan County Council and the people of Inniskeen on a Village Plan for this, the beautiful birthplace of the poet, Patrick Kavanagh.

Our team includes on Conservation, Karen McShane Transport Engineer, Engagement extraordinaire, Pragma Planning and Neo Environmental.

Contract signed, initial visit, sketching and meeting a few local people underway, and we are holding our first engagement event this Thursday evening on the social club from 7-9pm. If you have any connection to Inniskeen, please come along, or spread the word!

Some more photos of our recently completed project where the family now enjoy a lovely open space across the back of the...
13/06/2026

Some more photos of our recently completed project where the family now enjoy a lovely open space across the back of the house connecting to the garden, now accessible from the front hall when you walk in. Built in cabinetry by the contractor provides essential storage for family life. We love the beautiful artwork by Stephanie Noble echoing the windows to the greenery of the surrounding garden in this new space!

We love a good before and after, part of the pleasure of our job is getting the opportunity to transform. Here, our love...
11/06/2026

We love a good before and after, part of the pleasure of our job is getting the opportunity to transform. Here, our lovely clients started off with an already beautiful house that just needed to work a little harder for their young family. Some small but important moves to open up the house and make a bigger living space, and tucking in those hard working service spaces, while maximising connection to the garden, coupled with their excellent taste has resulted in some gorgeous spaces! More photos to come…
‘After’ photos by Elyse Kennedy
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