Self Organised Architecture

Self Organised Architecture (SOA) is an independent, not-for-profit collaborative established in 2018 and based in or near Dublin, Ireland. The organisation was founded by architects Tom O'Donnell, Padraig Flynn, Colin McDonnell, and Jim Roche. SOA’s mission is to promote and advance community-led housing initiatives throughout the country, with a focus on enabling communities to play a direct role in creating secure, affordable, and socially sustainable homes. Operating with a small team of two to ten people, SOA describes itself as an action research collaborative and a social enterprise. Its activities are varied: it offers advice and support for community-led housing (CLH) projects, consults for state and local bodies, develops policy, and undertakes advocacy and educational initiatives. The organisation is involved in both self-initiated and commissioned projects, working with community groups, government agencies, and local authorities. SOA has produced prominent research, including the “Roadmapping CLH” project—a 15-month initiative culminating in five handbooks outlining how to establish community-led housing in Ireland. Another key project, “Upcycling Trust,” started in 2024, is a five-year partnership with Cork City Council and Cork CLT to develop Ireland’s first urban Community Land Trust. Projects like “Reimagining Elderhood” address future-oriented, age-inclusive neighbourhoods. SOA has also contributed to legislative advancements, with community-led housing entering Irish law via the Affordable Housing Act 2021. Its ongoing work is shaping policy, supporting demonstration projects, and providing resources to build alternatives to traditional housing delivery in Ireland.