AJC Architects

John Allen

Denis John Wigram Allen (1926–2022) was born into an Sydney old legal family, Allens and his father had encouraged him to become a solicitor and was accepted into University of Sydney’s Law School in 1945. A year later Allen's interest in art and design prompted him to instead enrol in Architecture at Sydney Technical College. To gain practical experience during his six-year course Allen worked for Fowell & Mansfield until late 1948 and then for Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder. An economic downturn in 1951-1952 saw Allen redundant and lead to him to become a sole practitioner by July 1952.^[2][4]

Initially Allen limited his work to small-scale additions and alterations for friends and family. His first significant entirely new project was a house completed in Vancouver Street, Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory.^{[citation needed]}

Russell Jack

Russell Callum Jack (1925—2025) was a contemporary of JOhn Allen's at Sydney Technical College and with him at Rudder, Littlemore and Rudder whilst completing his studies. Jack aspired to be an architect from a young age and during his years in the Royal Australian Air Force he studied building construction and freehand drawing by correspondence.^{[citation needed]}

Jack won many prizes after graduation, including the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship. In May 1952 Jack set off with fellow architects to London, where he worked for Tripe & Wakeham Architecture Firm for a few months. His work there included a harem for the Sheik of Kuwait. He also travelled in Europe. This experience developed and broadened Jack's understanding of townscapes and urban spaces. Upon his return to Australia he gained more professional experience at Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder for two years.^{[citation needed]}

Jack's first major award was in 1958 with the RAIA Sir John Sulman Medal for his own house in Wahroonga, Sydney.^[2]

Keith Cottier

Keith Eric Cottier was born in 1938.^[5] He joined the firm in 1957, after Allen and Jack had recognised his architectural talent in his designs for Clubbe Hall. In 1964 the firm was renamed Allen Jack+Cottier.^[3]

In 2001 Cottier was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal.^[3]

Cottier was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to architecture as a member of a range of planning, heritage protection and property management organisations, and as a practising architect.^[6] Cottier was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in Architecture (honoris causa) at the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning graduation ceremony, University of Sydney 27 November 2009.

He was a trustee of Historic Houses Trust and a member of Sydney Opera House Eminent Architects Panel.^[7]