About

Born and raised on Ireland’s north coast, Catherine first studied in Glasgow before coming to work at Loader Monteith. She has previously obtained experience in Amsterdam, London and Coleraine. In her own time, Catherine enjoys exploring the coast or working on her allotment. She also has a strong interest in photography and printmaking.

One of the unique opportunities architecture has is to act as a record of the past, but also as a connecting point between eras, peoples and cultures. Catherine has benefited from a wide and varied range of practical experience through different offices, encountering varying attitudes to the built environment from residential extensions to conservation projects in Westminster Abbey and the Edinburgh Playhouse. She is particularly interested in the mounting environmental issues facing the world today and how we can fully engage the many facets of architecture to combat these, particularly when working with existing buildings.

Michael joined Loader Monteith in Spring 2024 bringing with him experience gained at practices throughout Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh, holding particular experience in delivering projects in both the cultural and residential sectors often working with listed buildings. 

His design approach stems from his education at the Newcastle University, where he studied Experimental Architecture, facilitating an interest in the range of processes and methodologies that can be applied to develop unique designs for each project.

Having previously tutored at the University of Liverpool, Michael now teaches Architecture on the Masters course at the University of Strathclyde in a studio focussed around the themes of ‘sustainability and responsibility’. In order to push forward his knowledge of sustainable design he is now also a Certified Passive House Designer.

Jemma has lived across several cities in Scotland, settling in Glasgow after her time studying at the University of Dundee and graduating with MArch Distinction in 2017. She has since worked in a combination of different practices that warranted a diverse range of project scales from community-led pavilions to larger masterplanning. A key thread of interest for Jemma throughout her work has been an interest in the use of existing buildings, through extension or considered renovation. For her, a fundamental purpose is the layering of meaning within each design to create uniquely independent pieces of architecture that work within their surroundings and for their users.  

In the autumn of 2023, Jemma joined Loader Monteith, providing her with more opportunities to work with existing buildings and the interpose of curated and considered materials within projects. Her greatest passion for work comes from strengthening the qualities of place and taking a thorough interest in cultural and historical references to enhance the built environment. She has aspirations towards specialising in conservation to underpin her design stance.

Eireann grew up in rural Perthshire, and studied at Edinburgh University School of Architecture. Before joining LMA in 2022, she lived in the Cairngorms for several years working on a range of domestic and commercial projects, including a large-scale hotel refurbishment and new-build leisure centre within the Cairngorms National Park. 

Her time exploring the highlands has led her to an appreciation of material and landscape. This is reflected in her sensitive design approach, embedded by an interest in sourcing local and sustainable makers and products. 

Much of her experience has involved working with listed buildings for restoration and refurbishment. She is actively engaged in conservation projects within the office, such as the Jenners Building in Edinburgh and the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, where she is further developing her knowledge and skills.

Jamie joined Loader Monteith in 2019, having completed his studies at Glasgow’s Mackintosh School of Architecture. His studies were spliced by a valuable year living and working on the Isle of Skye, where he developed a passion for Scotland’s rural landscape and vernacular architecture. This passion has been underlined by the technical delivery of several rural domestic properties while at Loader Monteith.

Alongside his domestic work at Loader Monteith Jamie has worked across several heritage projects in the office, from ecclesiastical buildings to a gas holder.

Working at Loader Monteith provides Jamie with opportunities to combine his various interest threads of landscape, heritage and beautiful design into a holistic approach to architecture.

Matt, a founding director of Loader Monteith alongside Iain Monteith, has been a qualified architect since 2009. He has led design teams on many award-winning projects in wide variety of of typologies and contexts. His expertise lies in contemporary design within historic settings, often involving adaptive restoration and extension of listed buildings, or work in conservation areas.

Matt is a natural leader and has insatiable optimism. This enthusiasm permeates through the studio and shapes the work of Loader Monteith. He ensures that every project is the best it can be, and carries its own distinct identity. 

Matt worked abroad in Spain after training at Edinburgh University. Within Scotland, he worked on several projects including the Laurieston Housing, Shettleston Housing Association’s Offices, Glasgow City Mission, Rothesay Pavilion, Stirling Tolbooth, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and various Rowing Centres. 

Matt is a trustee of RIAS and is an occasional speaker at Glasgow School of Art. A sports enthusiast, he regularly rows and runs – the former of which is where he met his wife. He is a father of two.

Iain has over 25 years of experience working in architectural practice and is co-founder of Loader Monteith.

His experience ranges from multiple award winning intricate domestic works through to large scale housing, education, healthcare projects. He is the lead consultant responsible for the coordination of multiple distillery projects in the North of Scotland designed to support both local communities and global brand presence. In addition to project management Iain is also responsible for the running of the practice and it’s direction.

Iain’s interest lies in developing projects with empathy to support the human experience, and to deliver projects that truly respond to people’s needs and enrich their lives.  Iain has a particular interest in the delivery of architectural education and is a postgraduate tutor at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. 

Outside of studio he loves music and football whilst keeping active and entertaining his young family.

Iain King, a director at Loader Monteith, is a highly respected conservation architect with the highest accreditation from RIBA. Trained at the University of Strathclyde and Eth in Zürich, Iain King excels at preserving culturally significant structures through meticulous detail and innovative approaches.

His expertise spans heritage projects and contemporary designs, with strengths in project management, communication, team leadership and collaboration with external stakeholders. Iain King creates essential conservation documents and offers comprehensive consultancy, ensuring alterations respect historical integrity and meet client needs.

Iain King’s guidance is invaluable for complex projects involving sensitive sites and listed buildings, striking a balance between preservation and adaptation. His dedication and expertise make him a vital asset to any conservation project.

He also tutors at the Glasgow School of Art and during the weekends enjoys going to gigs and spending quality time with his young family.