Orlaith is a feminist architect and designer.

Interested in secular spaces that celebrate and care for people.

Orlaith has studied and worked in a number of countries, she spent nine years in London both studying and working for respected interior architecture and fit-out firm Jackdaw Studio and high end architecture practice Alexander Martin Architects. Orlaith then spent four years in Melbourne working with award winning sustainability focused architect Michael Markham of tUG Workshop. In 2019 she returned to Ireland and set up her own studio, orlaithryanarchitecture, and now she has returned to Melbourne, for some new adventures.

Orlaith’s interest in architecture and design is its potential to be a tool to do good. She is drawn to what architecture can do and how it can make you feel. She believes the essence of good design is its power to sustainably provide positive social difference, economically and emotionally.

Orlaith has varied experience from private high end clients, developers and media companies in London, to state funded work in Melbourne for the Department of Health and Human Services and in rural Victoria for Victoria Police. In Ireland her clients have been a mixture of young first time home builders, mature couples looking to downsize and a number of businesses looking to extend their premises.

In February 2024 Orlaith attended the first conference held by the AIA in Nipaluna (Hobart) about Indigenous history, design and approach to community and Country, ‘Country, Community, Culture’. This has profoundly impacted her attitude and approach to designing and working on Country.

Orlaith believes architecture should not just be a luxury for the privileged, all people deserve good design!