Mary Ann Jackson (architect)

Education

Jackson completed her early studies in Queensland, graduating from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Applied Science Built Environment (B.A.Sc.) in 1980. She then completed a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) in 1983 at Curtin University of Technology, then known as the West Australian Institute before gaining a Graduate Diploma of Planning and Design, Urban Planning at Melbourne University in 2000. In 2011 Jackson gained a Master of Environment at Melbourne with a Master’s Research Project on Assessing Accessibility using a Participatory Approach: Strengths and Challenges of the Universal Mobility Index (minor thesis).

University of Melbourne M.(Masters) Env(environment)., Sustainability, Accessibility 2009 – 2011
Master's Research Project - Assessing Accessibility using a Participatory Approach: Strengths and Challenges of the Universal Mobility Index.

University of Melbourne
Post Graduate Diploma, Urban Planning
1998 – 2000

Curtin University of Technology
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), Architecture
1981 – 1983

Queensland University of Technology
Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Built Environment
1978 – 1980

Work

2005 – Present: Managing Director, Visionary Design Development Pty Ltd

1996 – 2005: Principal, MAJ Designs Architect and Interior Designer

1993 – 1996: Senior Architect, Gray Puksand Pty Ltd, Melbourne

1985 – 1993: Graduate /Architect, various metropolitan Melbourne practices

1981: Student Architect, Ian Dewar and Associates, Perth

Company

Visionary Design Development Pty Ltd (VDD) is a unique transdisciplinary consultancy, operating at the intersection of human needs and the built environment. Their holistic approach incorporating universal design, sustainability and social research, delivers consultancy services to government, NGOs, businesses and individuals to provide environments in which to nurture healthy local communities. The practice has extensive experience in the design, management, contract administration and review of a broad range of projects across the community, institutional, educational, health and housing fields. Their core team is small but highly qualified across a wide range of professional sciences and arts sub/disciplines including: architecture, interior design, urban planning, environmental studies, applied science, social science, international development and vision science. Key consultancy services include: architecture, accessibility, sustainability, planning, community development and research.

The Cat a.k.a. MEOWHAUS

The Cat aka MEOWHAUS is a collaborative project between VDD with HERE Studio, a community-oriented architecture office, which has been shortlisted as one of the projects that was being built and exhibited at the Emergency Shelter Exhibition, held at Federation Square from 1–5 May 2013. The exhibition started from a competition held by Jun Sakaguchi architect. The organiser mentioned that the purpose of the exhibition is: "to propose shelters that could not only protect people from rain and other elements in emergency situations but also provide a space to feel secure and comfortable in a disastrous environment, which is fundamental to the recovery process." This Emotional Shelter acts as a mock-up design for community-built shelters that connect and comfort people not just physically, but also emotionally. It was a self-built off and on-site at Federation Square by the team members using donated and recycled materials such as bamboo, plywood, corrugated iron, and LED lights. The small construction took roughly around 200 hours to build it. The shelter is designed to be suitable for all ages, but particularly for the children along with the senior citizens and people with disabilities as they are often the most vulnerable to natural disasters. The CAT is now located at the Venny, a children’s adventure playground in Kensington, Victoria.

WET + DRY House

A collaboration between three NGOs, Building Trust International, Habitat for Humanity and Karuna Cambodia resulted in a design competition with a brief; to develop a range of solutions for the low income families to build affordable and flood resistant housing in Cambodia. The VDD team came up with a design of the WET + DRY House and was chosen as one of the winning entries. The competition brief asked for designs that can withstand flooding and can provide a safe and comfortable home with a costs of around $2500. The WET + DRY House was erected on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, providing a secure and flood resistant home for a family over there who were the most in need. The design of the house allows the residence to convert the front of their home into a store front.

Social Housing

VDD in partnership with the Office of Housing (DHS), worked on a project called the Social Housing. The challenge was to design three separate single bedroom homes, with spacious and light filled living area, each with their own sense of personality on a site with a notably sloped topography. Using the Monash Planning Scheme as a guide, their design includes an articulated two-storey ‘apartment’ building at the front, that portrays a ‘town house’ and a separate ‘house’ at the end of the block. Such division creates an internalised courtyard-like space, used as a carpark, gardening, or outdoor activities. It also creates three discrete accommodation types; one with a fully accessible ground floor unit towards the street, on the top floor is a ‘balcony’ apartment and at the rear is a disconnected house. The different distribution of entries resulted a sense of a private space for each tenant, while the courtyard and gardening brings together the community. In accordance with the sustainability objectives, the design optimised the penetration of natural light through the building, provided water tanks with hot water piping, installed thick slab edge insulation, included wide eaves and achieved 7 stars energy rating while also considering the budget.

The Lime Tree Cafe

The Lime Tree Cafe is one of the facilities in the office of a pharmaceutical company, Sanofi Aventis. The management wanted to upgrade the staff facilities to help reflect the company as an industry leader and a provider of health and wellbeing products. Their vision of the facility was clear. They wanted it to be a café, most definitely not a canteen; a place for people to relax and connects, a place that attracts the attention away from internalised, controlled, pharmaceutical laboratories and production areas. The exterior envelopes the interior colours, rhythm and circulation. In response to the original structures and colours, the VDD applied a material palette in off-whites, grey-charcoals and light blues. The circulation and the building articulation, in addition to the client requirements and the expansion of the available land are main elements that drives the resultant form and structural logic of the final layout.

Others

Apart from physical buildings, the VDD group is also doing researches on accessible navigation, on behalf of the City of Melbourne. They investigate the potential of current and emerging technologies to improve the navigation of the urban environment for people with sensory impairment. They were also contacted by Moreland City Council, to research the level of accessibility of 50 shopping centres and retail precincts within the residential community of Moreland.

Awards

International competition, Self Sufficient Habitat, (Project Director) Published, 2014.

Melbourne Design Awards: Installation Design – Exhibition, (Project Director), in conjunction with Here Studio), Finalist, 2013.

International competition, Architecture of Necessity, (Project Director), Finalist, 2013.

International competition, Cambodia Sustainable Housing, (Project Director), Winner, 2013.

Emergency Shelter Exhibition Competition Melbourne (Project Director), in conjunction with Here Studio, Winner, 2013.

ArchiTeam Awards, Unbuilt Category, Highly Commended, 2012.

International competition Homelessness Solutions, (Project Director), Shortlisted, 2012.

International competition School for Burmese Refugees, (Project Director), Commendation, 2011.

ArchiTeam Awards, all categories, 2011.

Tropical Housing, Weddell Northern Territory (Project Director) 2011.

BPN Sustainability Awards, Multi-density housing, Finalist, 2010.

Victorian Government Competition, Affordable Housing (BAL 40, 6 stars, $150K), Winner, 2010.

City of Yarra Sustainability Awards, Innovation in Sustainable Building Design, Highly Commended, 2010.

Chan Chan EcoLodge/ Observatory, Chan Chan Peru, 2006.

Sense of Place Latin America Essay, 2005.

VicUrban Affordable Home Design, Melbourne VIC, 2004.

HIA Housing Awards, Residential Alterations and Additions $80 –140,000.00, Winner, 2002.

Shortlisted MS Victoria public art project River of Dreams fountain, 2000.

Dulux Colour Awards, 1998.

Australian Prospectors & Miners Hall of Fame, Kalgoorlie WA, 1997.

HIA Housing Awards, Residential Alterations and Additions under $120,000.00, Finalist, 1997.

Exhibitions

MeowHaus, de/Develop pop-up exhibition in conjunction with 2013 National Architecture Conference, Fracture Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne, June 2013.

Wet + Dry House, Cambodia Sustainable Housing, META HOUSE, Phnom Penh, May 2013.

Restorative Home, Virserum Art Museum WOOD 2013, May – December 2013.

MeowHaus, Emergency Shelter Exhibition, Fed Square, May 2013.

Wet + Dry House, Cambodia Sustainable Housing, on-line exhibition.

Restorative Home, HOME, on-line exhibition.

School for Burmese Refugees, on-line exhibition and POP UP, Oxford Street, London, Feb 2012.

Weddell Tropical Housing, Charles Darwin University Chancellery Building, Dec 2011.

2010 Yarra Sustainability Awards, Richmond Town Hall, Dec 2010 – Feb 2011.

ArchiTeam Awards 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013.

ADEC ArtAbility Project Management and Co-ordination of Art Exhibition, incl Opening Event, at Federation Square, 2008, 2009, 2010.

Nazca EcoLodge/ Observatory, Nazca Peru, on-line exhibition.

VicUrban Affordable Home Design, EcoEdge Conference Federation Square Melbourne VIC.

Interests

Speaking Spanish, visiting Latin America, cooking, motor cycles, supporting the Socceroos and keeping the (Blue Heeler) dog happy.