Our Approach

Designing and constructing a home or building is a complex process. Our goal is to make it less complicated while infusing your project with strong idea-driven, thoughtful and innovative design ideas. The process of designing a building isn't about any one person or thing. It's not about us, the architect, nor is it about a builder, a place, or a single idea. It's about a varied collection of elements, all centred about you.

Careful Listening, Innovative Thinking

This is your project, it must reflect you and the buildings users. Our process begins by listening to you, to your site, to your existing building, your budget, your tastes and lifestyle. Your habits and preferences. Your family and hobbies, your likes and dislikes. Our design solutions are based on those factors, not any preconceived ideas of what the building should be. We believe that the most rewarding architecture is found through the process of finding solutions and working through problems, to arrive at beautifully tailored design outcomes which surprise and delight. An investment in new thinking and exploration of different ideas makes for a more enjoyable process and a more thoughtful design outcome.

Idea Driven Design

Good design always begins with an idea. This reference point or narrative is something we refer to throughout the design and construction process. A narrative brings the project to life and gives it a reason for being, while informing decision making moving forward. We bring idea driven design to the process, this is how we work. So, we like our projects to be reflective of our individual clients needs and desires, we like ideas, and we like challenges. We believe all of these things are part of the recipe for producing good architecture. However, design is but one component, taking our design from paper and translating it into built-form is arguably the most critical part of the process.

A Collaborative Process

We view both design and construction as a collaborative process. Your project will be a reflection of this collaboration between us, the builder, the subcontractors and all of the trades involved throughout design and construction. We work closely with you, consultants, builders and craftspeople in order to realise the building of the design. It is only through the building process that all of the careful thought and ideas can be realised, experienced and enjoyed.

We would welcome the opportunity to work with you and begin crafting the design of your project together.... contact us to start the dialogue.

Our Philosophy

Our design philosophy infuses all our designs and can be briefly summarised in the following key concepts:

Sustainable

We approach every design with an inherently sustainable approach, yet flexible enough to allow adoption of differing architectural approaches to suit a particular design brief.

Site Sensitive

We carefully analyse each site to understand topography, climate, history and all the other opportunities and constraints afforded it. Our designs intend to reflect these local site characteristics to create a harmonious dialogue between building, landscape and the built environment.

Our Office

MJ Architecture was established in late 2007 by Michael Jirku, as sole director. Since establishment, MJ Architecture has undertaken a wide range of projects including small residential additions and renovations, new houses, unit developments, commercial office fit outs, schools, medical and health centres, hotels and more ...

Our clientele includes private clients, private sector companies, corporate entities, government agencies and not for profit organisations. We have the capability, experience and architectural skills to successfully deliver sustainable, site specific solutions for any project type, big or small, in Launceston, Hobart or anywhere in Tasmania.

MJ Architecture is an A+ member of the Australian Institute of Architects, registered with the Board of Architects of Tasmania and a Registered Building Practitioner (TAS).

Staff Profile

DIRECTOR
Michael Jirku, RAIA, BA Arch (hons), BA Env Des.

I graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1998 with honours and have been working as an architect in Tasmania since then. I have been a registered practicing architect since 2005 and director of MJ Architecture since late 2007. In this time, I have obtained extensive experience on a broad range of project types ranging from small renovations, through to complex medical centres, museums and large hotels.

My particular interest is in providing modern and environmentally sustainable design solutions which reflect the character and qualities of the particular site.

I also provide my skills and expertise as a design and building technology tutor at the University of Tasmania, School of Architecture.