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About Us

Practice Profile

Performance Driven Architecture Since 1995

Energy efficient design has always been the cornerstone and overall philosophy of Wain Morehead Architects Ltd. Implemented throughout our work regardless of building type, Managing Director, John Morehead, reinforced this ethos by his early qualification and accreditation as a Certified European Passive House Designer in 2010. WMA were also delighted to have been approved by Easca, the Environmental Sustainable Construction Association in 2010, acknowledging both our project work and overall philosophy.

Passive House

WMA completed its first Certified Passive House dwelling in Cork in 2011, the Carrigaline Passive House, and have recently completed a further two Certified Passive Houses, the West Cork Passive House and the Cork City Passive House, both with A1 ratings.

With six Architects and three Certified European Passive House Designers, WMA’s dynamic, performance driven practice with a diverse and contemporary approach has embraced sustainable design and alternative forms of construction ever since its foundation in 1995.

Services

WMA provides expertise in Architectural Design, ConservationPassive House, Interior Design, Urban Planning & Project Management, as well as additional services including building physics and analysis, ITC certified thermography, site specific climate dataBER assessmentNSAI Approved Thermal Bridge Modelling (ISO 6946), hygrothermal (condensation risk) analysis (EN 15026), In-Situ U-values (ISO 9869) and life cycle analysis (LCA).

We have gained an enviable reputation for top quality energy efficient design, backed by sound project management techniques ensuring cost effective buildings, timely delivery and to a high-quality standard.

“Projects and indeed clients rarely exist without certain external influences or symbiotic relationships. It is here architectural solutions can be really successful – by responding and relating to the external influences or contexts once thoroughly understood.” – JM

Our Team

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John Morehead

Managing Director

BIOGRAPHY

John qualified with a degree in Architecture from Bolton Street in 1986. After gaining work experience in Germany and UK, John became a full member of RIAI in 1991 prior to returning to Dublin to work with David Crowley and Associates. He set up his own practice in 1993 and in 1995 amalgamated with Brian Wain & Associates in Cork, forming Wain Morehead Architects Ltd. John has amassed experience in a significant number of projects for clients such as Departments of Defense, Justice, Education and Local Authorities as well as commercial banking institutions.

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Jennifer Kenefick

Senior Architect

BIOGRAPHY

Jennifer qualified from University College Dublin School of Architecture in 2007. After graduation, she worked in Dublin as a Junior Architect. In 2009 she relocated to Vancouver, Canada. While there, she worked on large residential, transportation and infrastructural projects, as well as urban design and masterplanning in municipal and university contexts. Jennifer returned to Ireland and joined WMA in 2014. She completed her Professional Diploma in Architecture at UCD in 2016 and was accepted as a Member of RIAI in June 2016. Jennifer became a Certified European Passive House Designer in 2016.

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Shane Fenton

Senior Architect

BIOGRAPHY

Shane qualified from the University of Limerick in 2013. Shane has experience on a wide variety of projects, including one-off housing design and larger commercial projects, with a focus on Passive House Design and building physics. Shane joined WMA in 2013. He completed his Professional Diploma in Architecture at UCD in 2016 and was accepted as a Member of RIAI in June 2016. Shane became a Certified European Passive House Designer and an NSAI Approved Thermal Modeller in 2016.

In 2022, Shane has taken on the role as Assistant Lecturer in the delivery of the MSc in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) at TU Dublin.

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Cathal Dennehy

Architect

BIOGRAPHY

Cathal graduated from the Cork Centre of Architectural Education in University College Cork in 2018. He worked as an assistant architect in Cork on small-scale healthcare and one-off domestic projects before joining WMA in 2019. He qualified as a certified BER Assessor in April 2022 and completed his Professional Diploma in Architecture in University College Dublin in June 2022.

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Owen McSwiney

Architect

BIOGRAPHY

Owen qualified from University College Dublin School of Architecture in 2007. Following graduation, he worked in Canada for eight years: in Montreal on the restoration of historic buildings and in Vancouver with a design-build contractor focused on high-end residential and commercial projects. His interests include interested in design, craft and sustainability. He became a Certified Passive House Designer in 2015.

Following his return to Ireland, Owen joined WMA in 2020 and completed his Professional Diploma in Architecture in 2022.

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Carlos Lidon Garcia

Graduate Architect

BIOGRAPHY

Carlos obtained a Graduate and Masters degree in Architecture from the University of Alicante in 2016. After graduation he worked in Elche (Spain) as a Junior Architect where he had the opportunity to work in different fields of architecture as residential buildings, luxury villas, urban design and master planning, hotels and shopping centres located in Spain and Argelia. Carlos joined WMA in 2021.

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Eilis McCarthy

Assistant Architect

BIOGRAPHY

Eilis McCarthy graduated from the Cork Centre of Architectural Education (CCAE) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture in 2021. She is currently working as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant with WMA and hopes to pursue her Masters of Architecture in 2023.

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Gabrielle Morehead

Office Manager

BIOGRAPHY

Gabrielle has a diploma in Interior Design from Chelsea College of Art & Design, 1989. Gabrielle is a professional photographer, and holds an associate membership with the IPPA since 2013. Gabrielle became a Director of WMA in September 2013 when she joined the WMA team to assist with marketing, photographic and administrative duties.

Awards

Green Professional Services Award, Finalist, 2018
Green Construction Award, 2108, Finalist, Cork City Passive House
Best of Houzz Design 2018
HPI Gold Certification, 2017, Cork City Passive House
Irish Architecture Award 2017, Cork City Passive House
Wood Awards Ireland 2016, Commendation for Innovation the use of timber products in the West Cork Passive House
Best of Houzz Design 2017
Best of Houzz Service 2017
Ecocem Green Building Award 2013, Finalist in the commercial section for our innovative approach to reinstating Bresnan’s family
Butchers in Douglas Shopping Centre, Cork
Green Awards 2012, Finalist with the Carrigaline Passive House
Sustainable Energy Awards 2006, Recognising Excellence in Energy Management ‘Svendborg’, The Marina, Cork
Urban Edge Interventions, National Housing Conference 2005
Nomination for the Grand Prix de l’Urbanisme 2002, a major international Urban Design Award held in Paris in November 2002, – Knocknaheeny Master Plan, Cork
About The House television programmer, Autumn 2002, Extension to private dwelling, Rochestown, Cork
Irish Housing Conference 2001 Traveling Exhibition & Publication, Construction of 17 dwelling units, Farranlea Road, Cork
Irish Housing Conference 2001 Traveling Exhibition & Publication, Mixed Housing, Better Densities, Orchard View, Mahon, Cork Local Authority Housing