By Julia Gamolina

McLean Quinlan is a family of architects who for over forty years have been creating distinct, beautifully crafted homes and retreats in the town, the countryside, in the UK and overseas. From studios in London and Winchester, their projects are carefully attended to by a tight-knit team of architects and designers supported by a trusted network of professionals and craftspeople, all with a unique role to play.The firm is recognized for the ability to carefully curate warmth, texture, scale and atmospheric light to give a space a unique and tangible character. Using natural materials and traditional process but in a highly crafted and contemporary way, the team delights in the detail, the sensory, the tactile. Their award-winning buildings are designed to endure and we hope will continue to inspire beyond our lifetime.

Founding Director of Fiona McLean has been running the studio for over forty years, and was joined fifteen years ago by her daughter Kate Quinlan, and her son-in-law, Alastair Bowden, in leading the studio. In their interview with Julia Gamolina, Fiona and Kate share what it is to define a legacy practice, and what it's like to work with family.

JG: I love your work — your projects all have such a warm spirit. With this in mind, what's top of mind for you both looking forward to the rest of 2025? What should all of us reading be paying attention most to and thinking about as well?

FM: A positive frame of mind, focusing on the good and all the possibilities ahead. A big part of that is our new, bigger studio and all the potential it brings to host our clients and collaborators. Generally I want to focus on being grateful for the good things, and not getting bogged down by the negatives. I’ve been reading Orbital by Samantha Harvey—a beautiful reminder to keep that outlook.

KQ: I completely agree. For me, it’s all about sustainability, well-being, and happiness. There’s something refreshing about stepping away from the digital world. At the office, we’re focused on creating a warm, inspiring, and welcoming environment where the team truly feels at home. Being able to sit around a table together, even if it’s a big one, is really important.

Downland Barns. Photography by Jim Stephenson.

Now let's go back a little bit — tell me about why you both studied architecture, and how you chose where you studied architecture?

FM: I’ve always loved art and drawing as a child, so studying architecture just felt like a natural progression. I studied architecture at Edinburgh University, the beautiful city of my birth, as the idea of returning there felt right.

KQ: Fiona’s choice of Edinburgh really set the stage for our family’s connection to architecture. I also wanted to go to Scotland. While Fiona went to Edinburgh, I ended up in Glasgow at The Mackintosh School of Architecture where I met Alastair, my husband and fellow Director at McLean Quinlan. There’s a humble, honest approach to design in Glasgow which isn’t about making flashy statements, but about creating solid, elegant, and beautifully detailed buildings. This influence greatly features our work now.

“Working in both larger offices and smaller studios taught me one thing very clearly: culture is everything. The feel and ethos of a workplace directly shape the work you produce.”

— Kate Quinlan

Tell me about your experiences working for various offices before starting your practice. What did you learn that you still apply today?

FM: My first job was during my year out in Edinburgh with Ian Lindsay and Partners, a highly respected practice and a fantastic introduction to the profession. After finishing my studies, I returned to London and worked with Glynn Smith, a design firm specialising in interior architecture for hotels, airports, graphics, and exhibitions. I was still finishing my final exam, so after six months I left to join the Basil Spence Partnership. I passed my Part 3 exam, married Steve Quinlan — a fellow student from Edinburgh — and was pregnant with Kate when I left Basil Spence a year and a half later. That experience made it clear that I wanted to work for myself and run my own practice.

KQ: Working in both larger offices and smaller studios taught me one thing very clearly: culture is everything. The feel and ethos of a workplace directly shape the work you produce. When you’re in a supportive, open environment, you naturally do better work. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career.

Jackson Hole. Photography by Jim Stephenson.

Fiona, tell me about starting the practice and how the firm has evolved since you did.

FM: I’m not sure where the confidence came from, but I knew I could make it work. Starting my own practice meant I had the flexibility to look after Kate—and later, Alex. At first, my studio was at home, and with a part-time nanny to help, I was largely working on my own. My first big project was the conversion of a poultry warehouse in Smithfield for The London Lesbian and Gay Centre, funded by the GLC—a terrific learning experience!

As my children grew, I focused on extensions and refurbishments of existing houses, gradually building up my experience. Word of mouth then led to larger, more challenging projects and repeat clients who needed their next house—or even a second home. The big break came when a colleague introduced me to a friend in advertising returning from the States, who needed a large family house in Ealing. It was in a conservation area, but their brief was for something spatially exciting. The result was a radical reimagining of an Edwardian detached house—conventional from the street but full of unexpected surprises inside. That published project opened the door to many more opportunities, both around the country and abroad. It was around that time that Kate began her own architectural journey in Glasgow.

Now Kate, I’d love to hear about the decision to join and how your role has changed over the years.

KQ: I joined McLean Quinlan at a time when balancing work and family was essential. I had young children, and the flexible, supportive way of working was exactly what I needed. What started as helping on specific projects has evolved into a role where I follow along from the very first sketch to the final detail. I love that today every team member has a part to play. We’re not about the ‘architect on high’ we’re a genuinely collaborative team built on trust, attention to detail, and the hard work of our craftspeople who bring our ideas to life. Working with designers from across the UK, and internationally, makes it feel like we’re all in it together.

What is something challenging that you've each been through? How did you move forward and what did you learn?

FM: There have of course been challenging moments but that’s life and learning how to be resilient is part of it. I feel blessed in so many ways and I’ll concentrate on that.

KQ: I feel very blessed overall, and I don’t really dwell on the negative, it’s more helpful to focus on what you have. Hard times have a way of making you appreciate the good, and I believe that challenges, while difficult, can make you kinder, bolder, and braver. I’ve been fortunate that any challenges I’ve faced have been transient, and every setback has ended up teaching me resilience and gratitude.

“Success, in my eyes, is when architecture and landscape blend so well that one enriches the other.”

— Fiona McLean

What have you also learned in the last six months?

FM: Oh gosh! Six months is no time at all—perhaps I’ve learned that life really is short, so we have to make the most of every opportunity. Something else that’s struck me is the power of small-scale rewilding projects. I recently visited Knepp in Sussex, and it was extraordinary to see how, by giving nature a bit of space and time, the land can quickly restore itself. It’s a reminder that our designs, no matter the scale, can be part of that regeneration, if we’re thoughtful about how buildings are built, how they perform and how they sit within their wider landscape.

KQ: As a parent of teenagers, I’ve noticed just how much tougher things are for young people today compared to when I was starting out. There’s a much higher academic bar now, and I honestly think choosing future architects solely on exam results isn’t the best approach. It’s a shame because true creative potential isn’t something that can be measured by traditional academic standards alone.

Who are you admiring now and why?

FM: I’m deeply admiring of those who use their amazing creativity and talent to raise awareness and develop solutions for our planet’s healing. Their dedication to sustainability and regeneration is both inspiring and essential. The local wine industry is a good example: winemakers in the south of England are challenging traditional notions of where vineyards can thrive, proving that climate change, while daunting, can also open up new opportunities for more sustainable, thoughtful practices. I always look out for new developments in wine and hospitality where bold design meets sustainability, it's such a promising mix.

KQ: I've been really impressed by the recent wave of filmmaking — the innovative, boundary-pushing work emerging these days is incredibly exciting. Meanwhile, in the UK, the construction and architecture scene faces its own challenges. In a post-Grenfell climate with a planning system stretched to its limits, progress can be difficult. Nevertheless, there's some truly beautiful work being done, and it's inspiring to see the community's commitment to advancing low embodied carbon technology, with organizations like LETI playing a pivotal role.

Snake River Cabin. Photography by Jim Stephenson.

What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?

FM: I’ve never been driven by competition or conventional measures of success in architecture. For me, the true fulfillment comes from working together and from the creative, intricate process of crafting spaces that are functional, beautiful, and harmonious for the people who entrust us to work with them. Success, in my eyes, is when architecture and landscape blend so well that one enriches the other. Achieving this calls for a great landscape team at our side, and it’s thrilling to see how much that collaboration elevates the final result.

KQ: For me, it’s all about building a team united by a shared vision and working together to create something meaningful. I know that the homes we design take on a life of their own, long after we’ve moved on, they continue to serve their purpose. We send them out into the world as sustainably as possible, nurturing them to life. It’s incredibly exciting to watch them thrive, almost like we’re midwives bringing something new and lasting into the world.

Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?

FM: Architecture is a wonderfully broad field that touches on so many aspects of life. Everyone brings unique skills, and the profession can accommodate all - from the big-picture thinkers to those who thrive on the detail. My advice? Discover which aspects of architecture you genuinely enjoy, and find a studio that’s truly caring, nurtures your talents and allows you to flourish.

KQ: Be yourself. Although architecture might still be seen as a male-dominated field at first glance, I’ve always known strong, capable women in the industry who’ve made it work. Increasingly, we’re working in larger, women-led teams and sitting around tables with many talented women across the construction world. I sometimes wonder if our clients are so pleasant because they don’t cling to traditional assumptions of what an ‘architectural team’ should look like. In any case, let your individuality shine through; it’s your greatest asset.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Shared Visions: McLean Quinlan's Fiona McLean and Kate Quinlan on Regeneration, Resilience, and Gratitude