Architecture & Design
Studio since 2001.

Cotter & Naessens are an award-winning architecture design studio with a reputation for innovative design, delivered with focus and attention to detail.

Cotter & Naessens
Architects

Our work encompasses diverse briefs, scales and locations: from rural houses to urban masterplans, all are underpinned by a common design philosophy that is enquiring and rigorous.

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Our approach is consistent regardless of the size of project: a clear design strategy based on understanding the site in context, place and time, and understanding the client’s requirements and ambitions for the project. We pay close attention to the cultural, functional and technical performance required for the project and rigorously implement the design strategy through to the fine detail.

Sustainability underpins our work and we believe that passive energy solutions should be seamlessly and holistically integrated into design solutions. We are mindful of resources-space, materials and energy and understand we must use these resources with care and creativity-to realise an original and customised project solution.

Base in Cork city since 2001, we offer a range of skills from master-planning, urban design through to internal space planning, detailed design, project management and contract administration. We are also RIAI Conservation grade 3 accredited and are experienced in projects that have a strong landscape, mixed use, and historic context. We relish the opportunity to work with challenging briefs and sites to deliver a design solution that is feasible and appropriate.

Our close-knit team offers an exceptional level of service to our clients. Successful multi-disciplinary design realises creative solutions through teamwork that includes rigorous analysis and value management from the outset. We have recruited an experienced team of specialist consultants with whom we have collaborated successfully on many projects, demonstrating that holistic design, distinctive architecture, and environmental performance can be achieved within defined parameters. The studio output is informed by design research, through teaching and competitions. Commissions won following design contest success include the Central Library and Cultural Centre, dlrLexicon in Dun Laoghaire and most recently the FOCAS Research Institute, Technical University Dublin. Cotter & Naessens were one of 16 practices invited by the Grafton Architects to participate in Close Encounters at the Venice Biennale 2018.

The work of the practice has been nominated twice for the EU Mies Award and in 2016 dlrLexicon received the RIBA Award for International Excellence, and the RIAI Awards for Best Public Building and Best Cultural Building in 2015.

Awards
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Nominated for Mies van der Rohe EU Prize 2022

AAI Irish Architecture Award 2020: Award Winner

Civic Trust Awards (UK) 2020: - Highly Commended

Irish Building & Design Awards 2019: Winner 'Architectural Project of the Year'

Property Industry Excellence Awards 2019: Winner 'Design Project of the Year'

RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 2019: Winner 'Workplace of the Year'

Nominated for Mies van der Rohe EU Prize 2017

RIBA Award for International Excellence Award 2016

AAI Irish Architecture Award 2016: Award Winner

Irish Concrete Society Overall Prize Winner 2016

Civic Trust National Panel Special Award, Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design 2016

International Property Awards European Award 2016

LAMA Best Public Building and Grand Prix 2015

RIBAJ/Scheco Overall Winner and Sustainability Award 2015

World Architecture News Civic Buildings Winer 2015

World Architecture Festival 2015: Shortlist Community Buildings

CMG Building of the Year 2015

Irish Independent/KPMG Irish Property Awards Best Public Building and Overall Winner 2015

RIAI Best Public Building, Best Cultural Building 2015

RIAI Best Commercial Building 2007

RIAI Commendations 2004, 2005

AAI Award 1989

Publications
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dlrLexicon, Carr Cotter Naessens Architects, Gandon Editions 2015

Becoming Gandon Editions October 2009 and edited by Dr Sandra O Connell

The New Housing 3, Royal Institute of Irish Architects 2022

The New Housing 2, Royal Institute of Irish Architects 2009

Building Design 2 pages March 1989 Jewellery Quarter AAI Awards 3 pages 1990 New Hall Mills Birmingham

Academy Editions 1 page A Decade of competitions

Architecture Ireland 2 pages Sept 2004 Despards Yard Architecture Ireland 1 page South Presentation Convent

Architectural Ireland 3 pages January 2006 Solas ITT

House: Architecture Design 5 pages Summer 2007 House in Ballinlough

Plan 2 pages September 2007 Ballinlough

Architecture Today 2 September 2007 pages Grainstore

Wettbewerbe Aktuell 3 pages March 2008 dlrLexicon

Plan 1 page 2008 Sexton St Housing Limerick

Building Better Communities RIAI 2 pages 2009 Sexton

Irish Times ½ page December 2014

Sunday Times Culture Supplement 4 pages Dec 2014

Irish Arts Review Winter 2014 6 pages dlrLexicon

Architecture Ireland Winter 2014 6 pages dlrLexicon

Architects Journal November 2014 10 pages dlrLexicon

RIBAJ 3 pages December 2014 dlrLexicon

Irish Building Magazine Feb 2015 dlrLexicon

Building Construction Design December 2014 dlrLexicon

Baunetz March 2015 I page dlrLexicon

Wettbewerbe Aktuell March 2015 4 pages dlrLexicon

Concrete Quarterly 2 pages Spring 2015 dlrLexicon

Architecture Today 3 pages April 2015 dlrLexicon

Partner

Louise Cotter is a native of Tralee, Co. Kerry and graduated from the School of Architecture University College Dublin in 1983. Before returning to Ireland in 2001, Louise worked in London with Wickham van Eyck, Colquhoun and Miller and Dixon Jones on cultural and educational projects. Louise Cotter was the Southern Region Representative on RIAI Council from 2014 to 2021 and is a regular contributor to the Irish Arts Review and Architecture Ireland. She was an assistant lecturer at the School of Architecture, CCAE until 2019.

Louise Cotter is an assistant lecturer at the School of Architecture, CCAE.

Partner

David Naessens is a Dubliner and graduated from the School of Architecture University College Dublin in 1983. He has worked in London with Rick Mather, Branson Coates and Dixon Jones and in Boston with Koetter Kim. David is an accomplished draughtsman and artist and his work has been extensively published and exhibited.

David has extensive teaching experience in Ireland and the UK and was a unit leader in the School of Architecture, CCAE, developing an on-going interest in the planning and design of public space in Irish towns.

Studio Pet

Ruskin is an Irish Setter and studio pet.

Our Projects

Our approach is consistent regardless of the size of project: a clear design strategy based on understanding the site in context, place and time, and the client’s requirements and ambitions for the project.

Cotter
& Naessens

Sustainability underpins our work and we believe that passive energy solutions should be seamlessly and holistically integrated into design solutions.

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