JMA PHILOSOPHY:

“We live in a unique part of the world where architecture should be more about space, air and lightness. By ‘lightness’ we mean not just sitting lightly on the ground, but a cultural lightness where by natural light and lightness embrace and contrast heaviness.”

John Mainwaring L.F.R.A.I.A.

The basic attributes of the JMA philosophy are response to site, vista and climate. The spatial dynamics are primarily of more importance than form. Architecture consists of a series of spaces created by a composite of varying materials, surfaces, landscape, environment and view lines. These elements combine vertically and horizontally, adding a fourth dimension to the experience of the user.

JMA architecture has basically evolved over a 30 year period, and is intrinsically an architecture that has developed as characteristic Australian Coastal architecture, with the simplicity and unpretentiousness of a 'fibro beach shack.' The old European colonial and neighbouring Asian cultures are reinterpreted or abstracted into a 'new' vernacular. The practice is constantly searching for inventive ways of maintaining historical continuity, albeit using contemporary design processes, materials and technology.

Natural light, air movement and view lines intermix with the client's requirements to produce a stimulating and enjoyable built and landscape environment that responds to the different conditions all year. There is a conscious effort to blur the inside and outside spaces so that the special configuration suits flexibility, climate and thermal requirements. Many buildings produced by JMA do not require air conditioning. Form dynamics or tectonics often express the function of roof and wall planes allowing the intrusion and diffusion of light, at the same time giving privacy and acknowledgement to the inhabitants and neighbours.

The JMA philosophy deplores imported styles and artificial real estate values. John Mainwaring has a fundamental belief that architectural and urban design on the East Coast of Australia must take its own direction as part of the Pacific Western rim, balancing built Asian and European cultural influences. Shifts within the Architectural fabric include the vibrancy and muscle of heavy components juxtaposing the lungs of lightweight structures.

BACKGROUND:

JMA Architects was established on the Sunshine Coast in 1985. The office is now located in Newstead, Brisbane, to service projects in other locations throughout Australia. John Mainwaring was design director for the recently refurbished $25M Queen Street Mall in central Brisbane. Other urban design projects include the Noosaville riverfront/streetscape, and the Noosa Junction streetscape. Awards include the Robin Boyd and Robin Dods Award for residential architecture, the FDG Stanley Award and the Sir Zelman Cowan Award for institutional buildings, the National Commercial Commendation and the National Environment Award.

The firm won the Noosa Council Building of the Decade Award for the St Vincent's Aged Care Facility, and the Queen Street Mall won a Civic Design Award of Merit. The practice has been involved with many and varied projects since its early days in the mid 80's, including heritage and historical work.

The office works on any number of projects at the one time including master planning, urban design, waterside mixed-use developments, resorts, public buildings and various residential and multi-residential projects.

Many have been published nationally and internationally, with the firm developing its own distinctive sub-tropical and tropical architectural aesthetic. Design Philosophy principally revolves around site, climatic, and environmental factors.

JOHNS PROFILE:

JOHN CHARLES MAINWARING

John Mainwaring worked both in England and Denmark, travelling extensively throughout the world including Japan, where visits were made to the Nikkei Sekkei projects at Shinjuku in Tokyo and Professor Shinohara at the Tokyo Tech. Interest studies made of Sento Garden and Katsura.

He worked for twenty years in tourist related projects and lectured at both Queensland University of Technology and Queensland University.

John has received many citations and commendations for his work from all aspects of the industry. Work has been published extensively including South East Asia, France, Spain, England, Japan, Germany and Italy. He has been involved with many buildings in East Queensland and in particular the Sunshine Coast region where he has a first hand understanding of the immediate area. He now practices and lives in Brisbane.

JMA CAPABILITIES:

JMA has competence in the fields of Architecture and conservation work, urban design and interior design. The firm has a proven record in alliancing with large organizations. This flexibility has allowed the practice to work on both small and large projects.

JMA is currently an 8-person practice with 8 fully networked computers on a Linux server. Design and documentation is done using ArchiCAD Building Simulation System.

With ArchiCAD we can produce powerful 3D modeling from concept design through to documentation. This allows us to explore innovative design solutions and test them with real-time visualization.

Building simulations offer us efficient and accurate document production, as well as the capability to produce fly-throughs and photomontage.

'ArchiCAD' enables us to export in PDF, DWN, DWG and DXF formats which are fully compatible with 'Autocad' and 'Microstation.'

Our team is skilled in a number of other graphics applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Artlantis.

We also have an in house interior design expert who collaborates with micro details from the very early stages of the design phase.

Back to Top

Beaver, Robyn (2005). '100 Top Houses From Down Under' (The Images Publishing Group) - 'Kelly Residence' pp. 164-165, 'Modica Residence' pp.194-195.

Crafti, Stephen (2003). 'Inner Space', Vogue Living, June/July, pp. 140-147.

Hyatt, Peter (2000). Local Heroes: Architects of Australia's Sunshine Coast, Sydney: Craftsmen House.

Hyatt, Peter (ed.) (1998). "Stealth Bomber: Wright House', Steel Profile, no. 64, June, pp. 24-30.

Jarratt, Jackie (1998). 'Organic Style', 'Space and Light', 'Mountain View', in Noosa Style (The Blue Group, Tewantin, Qld), pp. 72-75, 82-87, 138-141.

Beck, Haig and Cooper, Jackie (eds) (1998). Sunshine Coast University College Library. Lawrence Nield with John Mainwaring, UME publication, vol. 7 (Faculty of Architecture, University of Melbourne), pp. 52-59.

Cerver, Francisco Asensio (1998). 'Krummins Hiller House', Dream Houses (ARCO, Barcelona), pp. 130-45.

Jackson, Davina (ed.) (1997). 'Sunshine Coast University Library. John Mainwaring and Lawrence Nield - Sir Zelman Cowen Buildings', pp. 46-47; 'St Vincent's Centre for Aged John Mainwaring Commercial Commendation Development Citation', pp. 72-73, Architecture Australia, vol. 86, no. 6, Award for Public Buildings, November/December 1997.

Keniger, Michael (1997). 'Reading Space', Architecture Review Australia, no. 59, pp. 40-46.

Miller, Judith (1997). Wooden Houses (Ryland Peters & Small, London), pp. 62-63, 129, 152, 153, 171.

Pickett, Charles (1997). The Fibro Frontier (Powerhouse and Doubleday Publishing, Sydney), pp. 106, 107, 121.

Hockings, John (1997). 'Tropical Library: Climate-responsive library for the new University of the Sunshine Coast', Architecture Australia, May/June, pp. 48-53.

Hopman, Roef (1996). 'Vive le Difference: Space planning in a beach resort', Australian Design Trends, vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 88-93.

Hyatt, Peter (ed.) (1996). 'Local Hero: Hiller Residence, Kenilworth, Qld', Steel Profile, no. 56, pp. 1-9.

Jackson, Davina (ed.) (1996). 'Chapman House - Robin Boyd Award for Housing', Architecture Australia, vol. 85, no. 6, November/December, pp. 40-41.

Mainwaring, John (1994). 'New Life for an Ageing Icon', National Trust Journal, issue 3, April, pp, 12-14.

Billault, Nanou (1994). '"Special Deco": Australie la Nature Apprivoise', Madame Figaro, no. 15431, April, pp.93-101.

Hockings, John (1994). 'Canal Zone', Architecture Australia, May/June, pp. 46-51.

Powell, Shirley (1994). 'On Reflection', Belle, December/January, pp.86-93.

Wright, Vicki (1994). 'The Meaning of Place, Light and Shade in Queensland - Reconciliation of Contradictions', Architectural Review, Autumn, pp. 42-49.

Luscombe, Desley and Pedan, Anne (1992). 'Pacific Villas - Sunshine Beach Qld', Picturing Architecture: Graphic Presentation Techniques in Australian Architectural Practice (Craftsman House, Sydney), pp. 86-87.

Pegrum, Roger (1987). 'House, Noosa Sound, Queensland', Details in Australian Architecture, vol. 2 (RAIA Education Division, Red Hill, ACT), pp. 14-15.

Pegrum, Roger (1984). 'Five Bungalows, Mission Beach, Queensland', Details in Australian Architecture, vol. 1 (RAIA Education Division, Red Hill, ACT), pp. 34-35.

Heath, Tom. Grose, James (guest ed.) (1983). 'Nominations The Sir Zelman Cowen Award 1983: Mission Beach bungalows', Architecture Australia, vol. 72, no. 7, December, p.22.

Cowell, Elizabeth (1983). 'Noosa Heads: A Coastal Country Club', Belle, no. 55, January/February, pp. 102-4.

Back to Top