Mary Arnold-Forster
I qualified as an architect in 1992, am ARB registered and a member of the Royal Incorporation of Architects of Scotland. In November 2016 I was honoured to be elected on to the Royal Scottish Academy. In January 2016 I set up the practice having worked for 16 years for Dualchas Architects, working on remote and wild sites all over the highlands and islands of the west coast of Scotland. Before Dualchas I worked for Stanton Williams and Patel Taylor Architects in London, David Miller in Glasgow and for myself.
I am interested in creating quiet, humane, restrained and beautifully crafted places and spaces based on a rigorous study of site, context, landscape and brief and try to create a backdrop for people’s work, their art and lives.
As well as and often in parallel with my work I’ve managed to fit in a great deal of mountain walking, sea kayaking and biking and have a deep love and an amateur understanding of the beautiful landscapes I have had the good fortune to work in and I take my responsibility to preserve these landscapes seriously. I am delighted to travel for an interesting project in a beautiful place and relish the challenge of a remote site and thoughtful brief whatever its size.
Douglas McCorkell – Architect
Dug takes on the role of project architect on several of our proposals bringing a wealth of experience gained from over a decade working for award winning design practices in Edinburgh and London:Reiach and Hall, Rick Mather Architects, Sutherland Hussey and Benson + Forsyth. He combines practice with teaching at the University of Dundee and has previously taught at the Universities of Liverpool, Nottingham and Strathclyde. His 5th year thesis project was awarded 2nd place in the RIAS silver medal and was the start of a contextually driven architecture pursued throughout his career.
Victoria Lorimer – Bookkeeper/Administrator
Victoria is the newest member of the team. She brings with her a wealth of experience with over 20 years book keeping and PA expertise in the agricultural and building professions. She started her career in the financial sector and has wide knowledge in the accountancy procedures and statutory requirements and is fully conversant with financial software and packages.
She spends her spare time traveling in a camper van with her family into the wilds or to a beach on a west coast island. Tiree is a particular favourite.
Ryan Taylor – Architect
Ryan graduated from the Mackintosh School of Architecture in 2009 and has since worked for JMArchitects and Hoskins Architects in Glasgow delivering higher education, leisure and cultural projects along with healthcare buildings and housing. After four years at Adrian James Architects providing high-end residential and community projects in Oxford, he returned to Scotland to apply his detailing, digital and physical model making skills at MAFA.
James Carefoot – Architect
James has over ten years’ experience in award-winning studios, working on contemporary and historic projects in London, The South East and Japan for Simon Conder Associates and BDP Heritage. James returned to Edinburgh, where he studied, to work with Mary designing refined buildings within remote landscapes. He is currently project architect on a large new house in The Lake District, which started on-site in early Summer 2020.
Matthew Doran – Architectural Assistant
Matthew graduated from the Mackintosh School of Architecture in 2020. During his studies, he spent a year working at a growing, design-led practice in Glasgow and then studied at the Oslo School of Architecture before returning to Glasgow to complete his postgraduate diploma. With a keen interest in context, place making and attention to detail, Matthew is keen to develop and apply these through his digital & physical model making skills within MAFA while working towards his professional practice qualification.
Amy Sanderson – Architect
Amy qualified as an Architect in 2019 after studying In Edinburgh and London. She has since worked at Assael Architecture and Fearn Macpherson Chartered Architects where her work has predominantly been within the residential sector. She has worked with buildings of varying scales ranging from large scale developments in London and Manchester to smaller scale residential projects across Highland Perthshire and the Scottish Borders. Amy enjoys learning about each new projects unique environment and applying her skills to create beautifully detailed buildings.