About Pediment
A thoughtful and informed approach to conservation, context, and intervention
Hello, I’m Ashley, a RIBA Chartered Architect and current SPAB Scholar (2025), specialising in the conservation and adaptation of historic buildings.
This site is a record of my work, travels, and ongoing study. My interests lie in traditional construction, vernacular materials, and the careful repair of historic fabric. I have worked across a range of traditional buildings and sensitive heritage sites. I continue to learn from craftspeople and conservation specialists across the UK and Ireland.
My background combines studio-based design with site-based practice. Through the SPAB Scholarship, my current focus includes hands-on training in traditional building techniques, the study of craft, and the wider cultural context of architectural repair.
Pediment is a personal portfolio and a place to reflect on the role of heritage in shaping a more sustainable and meaningful built environment.
Whether you’re a fellow professional, a heritage enthusiast, or someone looking for thoughtful conservation expertise, I’d love to connect and exchange ideas.
My Experience
I am an architect specialising in the conservation, repair, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.
My experience spans projects across Ireland and Scotland, from fabric condition assessments to the delivery of complex works on site.
My approach is informed by a detailed understanding of traditional materials and , careful analysis of historical context and significance, and a commitment to long-term stewardship that prioritises thoughtful intervention, minimal impact, and the continued use of historic buildings.
Education
I hold a Masters Degree from the University of Dundee in Architetcure and a Postgraduate degree in Applied Building Repair & Conservation from Trinity College Dublin. My studies have focused on adaptive reuse, sandstone decay, and the responsible repair of traditional buildings.
My MArch thesis proposed the adaptive reuse of a derelict Art Deco furniture store in Dundee, revealing and responding to its layered history, including remnants of an earlier Victorian church, through a conservation led design for a museum archive.
Early Career
I began my career with Purcell, an AJ 100 practice, in their Edinburgh office. I gained early experience on large conservation projects. This formative period deepened my commitment to working with traditional buildings and conservation-led design. I spent a short time working with vernacular structures in the Scottish Highlands at the completion of my university studies.
Alastait Coey Architects
As Project Architect, I worked on a wide range of conservation and adaptive reuse projects across Northern Ireland. From monuments to large-scale residential conversions, I led projects from survey and assessment through to delivery on site, developing a practical understanding of historic fabric, repair philosophy, and stakeholder engagement
Consarc Design Group
At Consarc, I led aspects of the refurbishment of the Bank of Ireland Headquarters at College Green, Dublin. The project involved coordinating fabric repairs, building services upgrades, and submission statutory consents across a series of interconnected protected structures. It deepened my technical knowledge and strengthened my ability to manage complex, conservation-led interventions at scale.
National Trust for Scotland
As a Building Conservation Surveyor with the National Trust for Scotland, I contributed to the repair and long-term care of a wide range of historic buildings. Working across the East Region, I gained valuable experience in fabric assessment, statutory compliance, and the delivery of complex conservation projects.
SPAB Scholarship
As a 2025 SPAB Scholar, I am engaged in an intensive, hands-on exploration of historic building repair.
Through site visits, technical demonstrations, and conversations with leading practitioners, the programme is expanding both my technical understanding and my approach to conservation in practice.
