Richard Francis-Jones (born 1960, Hertfordshire, England) is a highly awarded Australian architect. He is the design director of the Multidisciplinary design practice
Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
Francis-Jones Carpenter (fjcstudio) is a multi-disciplinary Australian design studio established in 2002 and noted for design excellence and a commitment to enhancing the public realm. fjcstudio has a reputation as an ideas-driven practice "with a ...
(FJMT), which was renamed in April 2023 as Francis-Jones Carpenter (fjc). He is a Life Fellow of the
Australian Institute of Architects
The Australian Institute of Architects, officially the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (abbreviated as RAIA), is Australia's professional body for architects. Its members use the post-nominals FRAIA (Fellow), ARAIA (Associate Member) an ...
, an
honorary fellow
Honorary titles (professor, president, reader, lecturer) in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties. This practice primarily exists in the UK and Germany, as ...
of the
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach progr ...
and a Member of the
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...
.
Education
Francis-Jones graduated from the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...
with a Bachelor of Science (Architecture) in 1981 and a Bachelor of Architecture with First Class Honours and the University Medal in 1985. He attended
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
on an
ITT Fellowship, where he studied under
Kenneth Frampton
Kenneth Brian Frampton (born 20 November 1930) is a British architect, critic and historian. He is regarded as one of the world's leading historians of modernist architecture and contemporary architecture. He is an Emeritus Professor of Archit ...
, completing a Master of Science in Architecture and Building Design in 1987. He subsequently taught at Columbia University as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture. Francis-Jones has taught at many Schools of architecture in Australia, is a former Visiting Professor at the
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949.
The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...
, and is currently teaching at the
University of Technology Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public university, public research university located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1988, though its origins as a Institute of technology, ...
.
Practice
Following his studies at Columbia University, Francis-Jones practised at firms in New York, Los Angeles and Paris before returning to Sydney in 1989 where he joined FJMT’s predecessor, MGT Sydney. He became a director of the firm in 1996 and was a founding partner of Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp in 2003.
FJMT has a reputation as an ideas-driven practice "with an agenda for strong public engagement and masterful resolution of tectonics"
and the firm’s work demonstrates "an extraordinary ability to uncover the real and often contradictory issues and potentials of a project by a very careful analysis of purpose and place".
Most of the firm’s major commissions have been won by competition and Francis-Jones is supportive of the power of the architectural competition to produce good architecture and create new opportunities for practices: "the more public the competition… the greater the contribution to the wider culture of architecture."
Francis-Jones’ approach is a response to the transition from industrial to digital economies and investigations utilising emerging sciences and technologies are evident. Yet, Francis-Jones considers the potential of this knowledge to address society’s challenges and give architects new scope for imagination is limited by the tendency for architecture to be reduced to fetishised object for consumption.
"An authentic contemporary architecture should not only attempt to somehow begin to reconcile humanity’s place in the world but also be directed towards rejuvenating, repoliticising our desiccated public realm. We should pursue an architecture appropriate to citizens rather than consumers."
'…Francis-Jones has possibly been at his best in civic works... More than any other contemporary practice of comparable calibre in Australia, FJMT has been consistently engaged in the design and construction of large-scale public and/or commercial buildings ...Many of these works derive their plastic character from the unique, rather theatrical concept of lateral exfoliation, that is to say the folding out of brises soleil so as to visually engage the surrounding landscape, thereby emphasising a topographical affinity between the building and its context. In all of this work the issue of sustainability is given priority…'
Francis-Jones was the creative director of the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2008 National Conference
''Critical Visions: Form Representation and the Culture of Globalisation'' and is an editor o
and ''Content: a journal of architecture''. Francis-Jones was President of the
RAIA
The Australian Institute of Architects, officially the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (abbreviated as RAIA), is Australia's professional body for architects. Its members use the post-nominals FRAIA (Fellow), ARAIA (Associate Member) an ...
(NSW Chapter) from 2001–2002 and was a member of the NSW Architects Registration Board from 2001-2004.
Books
* Architecture as Material Culture
* Truth and Lies in Architecture
Notable projects
* UTS Central
* Inner Sydney High School
* EY Centre
* Te Ao Mārama - Auckland War Memorial Museum
* The Frank Bartlett Library and Moe Service Centre
*
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is the principal public gallery in Auckland, New Zealand. It has the most extensive collection of national and international art in New Zealand and frequently hosts travelling international exhibitions.
Set be ...
* Craigieburn
* Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre
*
Surry Hills Library & Community Centre
*
Sydney Law School
Sydney Law School (informally Sydney Law or SLS) is the law school at the University of Sydney, Australia, Australia's oldest university. Sydney Law School began a full program of legal instruction in 1890 following the appointment of its first d ...
,
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...
* The John Niland Scientia, University of New South Wales
* The Red Centre, University of New South Wales
*
St. Barnabas, Broadway
* Darling Quarter, Sydney
* The Waterfront Pavilion – Australian National Maritime Museum
* Bunjil Place
* Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
File:Surry Hills Library 2010.jpg, Surry Hills Library
File:Auckland Art Gallery - Extension.jpg, Auckland Art Gallery redevelopment
Awards
* Australia Award for Urban Design 2012, PIA
* City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize 2013, AIA (NSW)
* Greenway Award for Conservation 2005, AIA
* International Award 2012, RIBA
* International Public Library of the Year 2014, Danish Agency for Culture
* John Verge Award for Interior Architecture 2010, 2015 AIA (NSW)
* Jorn Utzon Award for International Architecture 2012, AIA
* Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage 2005, AIA
* Lloyd Rees Award for Excellence in Civic Design 2000, 2013, AIA (NSW)
* Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture 2010, 2013, AIA (NSW)
* National Architecture Award for Public Architecture 2010, AIA
* National Architecture Award for Sustainable Architecture 2010, AIA
* NZ Architecture Medal 2012, NZIA
* Sir Arthur G Stephenson Award for Best Commercial Architecture 2013, AIA (NSW)
*
Sir John Sulman Award for Outstanding Public Architecture
* Sir Zelman Cowen Award 2000, AIA
* WAF Office Category Winner 2011, 2014
* World Building of the Year Award 2013,
WAF
Bibliography
* fjmt studio I Maestri dell'Architettura Collector's Edition - Hachette Publishing, 2019
* Architecture as Material Culture: The Work of Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp with Kenneth Frampton - Oro Editions, 2013
* In the Realm of Learning - The University of Sydney's New Law School by Richard Francis-Jones: Images Publishing, 2009
* The Mint Project by Robert (Editor) Griffin, Paul Berkemeier, Richard Francis-Jones, Gerard Reinmuth, Peter Watts, Philip Thalis, 2009
References
External links
FJMT websiteCritical Visions - AIA National Conference 2008FJMT Australian Institute of Architects awards
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis-Jones, Richard
Architects from Sydney
Living people
1960 births
British emigrants to Australia