AJC Architects, formerly Allen Jack+Cottier and before that John Allen and Russell C. Jack, is an urban design, architecture, and interior design practice in Sydney, Australia. It was founded in 1952 by John Allen and Russell C. Jack, who were joined by Keith Cottier in 1964. , the practice is headed by director and CEO Michael Heenan.
History Denis (John) Allen began his own practice in 1952, and on 1 July 1956 formed a partnership with university friend Russell Jack, calling their firm John Allen and Russell C. Jack.
In July 1956 John Allen and Russell Jack formed an equal partnership. For the first few years their clientele was relatively small, limited to Allen focusing on some factory designs and Jack designing a few houses. Allen's pre-fabricated steel design for Wolfe Electric Tools Factory 1957, at Homebush was the basis for future industrial structures, notably Qantas, and Keith Cottier's Domaine Chandon California. In 1964 the firm was renamed Allen Jack+Cottier.
Founding partners John Allen Denis John Wigram Allen (1926–2022) was born into an Sydney old legal family, Allens and his father had encouraged him to become a solicitor and was accepted into University of Sydney’s Law School in 1945. A year later Allen's interest in art and design prompted him to instead enrol in Architecture at Sydney Technical College. To gain practical experience during his six-year course Allen worked for Fowell & Mansfield until late 1948 and then for Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder. An economic downturn in 1951-1952 saw Allen redundant and lead to him to become a sole practitioner by July 1952.
Initially Allen limited his work to small-scale additions and alterations for friends and family. His first significant entirely new project was a house completed in Vancouver Street, Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory.
Russell Jack Russell Callum Jack (1925—2025) was a contemporary of John Allen's at Sydney Technical College and with him at Rudder, Littlemore and Rudder whilst completing his studies. Jack aspired to be an architect from a young age and during his years in the Royal Australian Air Force he studied building construction and freehand drawing by correspondence.
Jack won many prizes after graduation, including the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship. In May 1952 Jack set off with fellow architects to London, where he worked for Tripe & Wakeham Architecture Firm for a few months. His work there included a harem for the Sheik of Kuwait. He also travelled in Europe. This experience developed and broadened Jack's understanding of townscapes and urban spaces. Upon his return to Australia he gained more professional experience at Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder for two years.
Jack's first major award was in 1958 with the RAIA Sir John Sulman Medal for his own house in Wahroonga, Sydney.
Keith Cottier Keith Eric Cottier was born in 1938. He joined the firm in 1957, after Allen and Jack had recognised his architectural talent in his designs for Clubbe Hall. In 1964 the firm was renamed Allen Jack+Cottier.
In 2001 Cottier was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal.
Cottier was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to architecture as a member of a range of planning, heritage protection and property management organisations, and as a practising architect. Cottier was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in Architecture (honoris causa) at the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning graduation ceremony, University of Sydney 27 November 2009.
He was a trustee of Historic Houses Trust and a member of Sydney Opera House Eminent Architects Panel.
The practice today , Dua Green is CEO and director of AJC Architects. The studio is located in Chippendale.
Award-winning projects
Significant project by Allen Jack+Cottier: Completed Project name Location Award Notes 1958 Jack House 62 Boundary Road, Wahroonga 1963 Jacobs House 36 Cleveland Street, Wahroonga 1965 Cater House 145 Mugga Way, Red Hill, Canberra 1966 Clubbe Hall, Frensham School Mittagong Blacket Prize for a Building of Outstanding Merit New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award || 1970 Rothbury Estate Winery 2213 Broke Road, 1975 Seymour Centre University of Sydney 1988 Apple Headquarters Frenchs Forest 1990 Domaine Chandon California Winery 1994 Wylie's Baths 1996 Penfolds Magill Estate Winery Adelaide 2000 Moore Park Gardens RAIA President's Award New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award 2001 Woollahra Council Chambers Double Bay 2002 Schaeffer Fine Arts Library University of Sydney 2003 Kogarah Town Square Kogarah 2006 Lake Ainsworth Sports & Recreation Hall Lennox Head Public Building Commendation, 2007 (NSW) Sustainable Architecture Commendation, 2007 (NSW) Blacket Prize, 2007 2008 Rouse Hill Town Centre Rouse Hill Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2008 Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2008 2008 Berry Sports and Recreation Centre 660 Coolangatta Road, Berry Blacket Prize, 2008 Public Architecture Award, 2008 (NSW) 2009 A1 @ SW1 South Bank Brisbane
See also
Architecture of Australia
References
External links