Our work spans hospitality and theatre design/ public, education, health and medical research buildings/ creative office fitouts/ single dwellings, multi-residential and affordable housing/ teaching and research/ publication, exhibition and community engagement.

In practice, we have received numerous awards at both state and national levels, our research on housing affordability published by the Australian Institute of Architects, and our work with students exhibited locally and abroad.

Jon Jacka Architects received a 2023 AIA NSW Chapter Award for Public Architecture for the St George Sailing Club, Sans Souci. We received the Hugh and Eva Buhrich Award at the 2018 AIA NSW Chapter Awards and the Eleanor Cullis Hill Award at the 2018 AIA National Awards for Laneway House. Jon was the project architect for the Westmead Millennium Institute and Research Hub that received the Sir John Sulman Medal for Public Architecture in 2015.

Jon Jacka was the guest editor of the Winter 2017 edition of the Architecture Bulletin on affordable housing. He presented at the Architecture Foundation’s 2018 Deerubbin Conference. He was studio leader for the urban stream of the University of Sydney Master of Architecture and the housing stream of the UNSW Master of Architecture programs from 2016 to 2019 and exhibited a range of alternative housing projects, worked up with students, at an associated exhibition of the 2018 Venice Biennale.

With a guiding mission to have a positive influence on the city, our approach taps the social memory and intelligence of past structures. Our work is practical and experimental and we eschew projects considered socially or environmentally detrimental.

About

With over 30 years experience in the allied fields of architecture, interior and urban design, our key interests include equity, diversity and social interaction.

  • St George Sailing Club, Sans Souci

    2023 AIA NSW Public Architecture Award

    (2023 AIA National Awards to be announced)

    Laneway House, Newtown

    2018 AIA NSW Hugh & Eva Buhrich Award

    2018 AIA National Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award

    Westmead Millenium Institute

    2015 AIA NSW Sir John Sulman Medal with BVN Architecture

    2015 AIA National Awards for Public Buildings Shortlist with BVN Architecture

    Parallel House, Newtown

    2012 NSW Houses Awards High Commendation

    2012 Marrickville Medal High Commendation

    2011 AIA NSW Single Houses Commendation

    St Margaret’s, Surry Hills

    2005 Urban Taskforce Design Excellence Award with PTW & SJB

    30 The Bond, Millers Point

    2005 AIA NSW Commercial Architecture Award with PTW

    2005 AIA NSW Sustainability Award with PTW

    Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay

    2004 AIA Public Buildings Merit Award with PTW

  • Venice Architecture Biennale 2018, Associated exhibition

    7 Projects with UNSW and Government Architect NSW.

    Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2013, Associated Project

    Cidade Da Roupa Branca with Olivia Hyde, Tom Cole and Pedro Telleria‐Texera.

  • Architecture Bulletin Winter 2017

    Affordability - A Field Study (Guest Editor)

  • Baugruppen Sydney

    2016 Independent research.

    Testing a Bank Australia finance product for a mixed‐use project in an inner ring suburb of Sydney.

  • Monash University - Sydney Studio

    2021 Studio Leader - Affordable Infill in Newtown

    UNSW Sydney Urban Lab

    2019 Studio Leader - Building Communities with Flores Prats Architects

    UNSW Masters of Architecture

    2017 - 2019 Studio Coordinator, Housing Stream

    University of Sydney Masters of Architecture

    2016 Studio Coordinator, Urban Stream

  • Jon Jacka Architects Pty Ltd

    2010 ‐ present, 2003 - 2008

    Selected Projects

    St George Sailing Club, San Souci. A new sailing club on the shores of the Georges River. Project Architect, Project Manager, Lead Consultant, Superintendent, Fitout & Furniture Design, Landscape Design, Signage. (Completed 2022)

    3 Group Homes, Long Jetty. Development comprising 27 room assisted living homes prioritizing communal spaces. (In progress, DA submitted 2023).

    Koinobori Multi-Gen House, Malabar. A house that can be divided into 4 separate apartments for longevity and community. (In progress, DA approved 2023)

    Valley House, Bronte. A project that is much landscape as it is building that supports a family of 4 and 2 grandmothers. (In progress, pre-Council lodegement)

    Arc Edit. Film & television post-production studios in Alexandria. (Completed 2022). Links - Arc Edit, Official Website

    A Bigger Painting, Maroubra. An addition to a semi-detached dwelling that provides an artwork to the surrounding multi-residential apartments. (On site for 2023 completion).

    Triangle House, Newtown. Subdivision and new adaptable, multi‐use building. (On site for 2023 completion).

    Ultimo Terrace. Using the rear of a terrace to promote the development of a new active street frontage for work and living. (Unbuilt 2015)

    Tiny Tower, Maroubra. A new typology for additions to existing houses promoting multiple households on single lots and conversations between neighbours. (Unbuilt 2015)

    Laneway House, Newtown. A terrace house addition that re‐imagines the rear laneway for social interaction. (Completed 2014)

    Frame House, Glebe. An adaptable building model accommodating a single dwelling or up to three apartments, with the option of a shopfront. (Completed 2012)

    Parallel House, Newtown. Subdivision and adaptable, multi‐use building. (Completed 2011). Links - Habitus Living, Parallax Universe (10 July 2013), Habitus Living, Graphic Graffiti (6 August 2012)

    In-Kind Developments

    2023 ‐ present

    Selected Projects

    Infill on an inner city block, Newtown. A proposal to a strata body to increase housing in a well-serviced area.

    Social Project Agency (SPA)

    2023 ‐ present

    Selected Projects

    King Street, Newtown. An urban design proposal aiming to change planning policy toward a better future for one of the liveliest streets in Sydney.

    BVN Architecture

    2008 ‐ 2012

    Selected Projects

    Westmead Millennium Institute. $110M. Project Architect.

    Campbelltown Hospital Masterplan. $180M. Project Architect.

    Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Alexandria. $60M. Project Architect (laboratory design and coordination).

    Noosa Sheraton Redevelopment. Mixed use – hotel, retail and multi‐residential development. $80M. Project Architect.

    Durbach Block Architects

    2003

    Selected Projects

    Town Hall House, Sydney. Renovation and upgrade. $20M. Construction Documentation.

    Multi‐unit residential competition. Fremantle, Perth. Design Team.

    Urban design competition for the Manly Corso. Design Team.

    PTW Architects

    2000 ‐ 2003

    Selected Projects

    St Margarets at Surry Hills. Multi‐unit residential, retail and adaptive re‐use. Development application.

    30 The Bond, Millers Point. Commercial office building. Detailed Design & Documentation.

    Hengqin Island Resort Business District Masterplan, Zhuhai, China. Project Coordination.

    Sydney Theatre, Walsh Bay. Design Architect (front of house).

    Theatre Royal Hobart Strategic Plan. Feasibility Report. Project Architect

    Jane Davie Architect

    1998 – 1999

    Selected Projects

    Various housing projects for private clients.

    Brian McDonald & Associates

    1997

    Selected Projects

    Newington Armaments Depot, Sydney Olympic Village. Heritage Documentation.

    Various social housing projects for NSW Department of Housing.

    John Cockings & Associates

    1996 – 1997

    Selected Projects

    Various housing projects for private clients.

    Roderick Simpson, Architect

    1995

    Selected Projects

    Numerous projects including regional land sub‐division for a residential development on the Hawkesbury River and a mixed use residential and commercial project in Newtown. Other work included research into sustainable construction methods.

    Colin James, Architect

    1993 – 1994

    Selected Projects

    Design and support for numerous projects in Redfern & Waterloo including affordable housing, an indigenous community centre and additions to the South Sydney Youth Services, Waterloo Oval.

  • Jon works on unceded lands.

    With deep respect for the indigenous people of this nation, he acknowledges their spiritual connection and stewardship of Country - the cultural and lived practices that have sustained their people, the flora and fauna, the land, sky, sea and river systems for over 65,000 years.

    Jon acknowledges the severe post-colonial disadvantage experienced by our indigenous population.

    Architecture, urban design and development have an acute relationship to Country. While we push for indigenous rights, in practice we still claim ownership over and build on aboriginal land.

    Through design, Jon aims for the responsible planning and stewardship of Country best described by indigenous practice.

    He chooses to only work on projects considered socially and environmentally sustainable. Project types include –

    • Public projects

    • Affordable housing

    • Multi-residential housing

    • Multi-generational and adaptable housing

    • Small single-family houses, and

    • Commercial projects that strive to make a positive social impact

    Jon pays his respects to Elders past, present and future, and seeks to do what he can within the contemporary framework to respect traditional custom.

    He acknowledges that this is not enough.

    Limiting practice to socially and environmentally progressive projects, agitating for broader change and listening to indigenous voices, wherever they may be, seem like good starting points.