Wilson Architects are one of Brisbane’s most successful and functioning architectural practices. Operational since 1884, the firm was founded by Alexander Brown Wilson, whose great grandson Hamilton Blair Wilson currently acts as managing director of the practice ^[1].^: p.7 Wilson Architects have enhanced the landscape of Queensland from successful projects in the field of residential, ministerial and civic. ^[1].^: p.7

Four Generations

Alexander Brown Wilson (1857-1938)

A.B Wilson was born in Scotland and migrated to Queensland with his family in 1864 ^[1].^: p.9 After completing his schooling in Australia, A.B Wilson emerged as a young artist. During the late 1870’s, A.B Wilson worked under F.D.G. Stanley. A colonial architect in the Queensland Department of Public Works, Stanley provided A.B Wilson with technical experience in the architectural styles of the era ^[1].^: p.9 A.B Wilson left Glasgow in 1883, from where he graduated from the RIBA. Once returning to Australia he founded the Wilson Architects firm in 1884 in Queen Street, Brisbane. A.B. Wilson was most successful in residential projects, completing 35 houses within the first year of business, including villas such as Glenugie, Kemendine, Quinta, Nuungurum ^[1].^: p.10 A.B Wilson also received commission for civil buildings, including Bank of New South Wales and the Plough Inn. By 1888, he had become a widely known architect of Brisbane with continuous connections and commissions. However, the years following saw the economic crisis coupled with the 1893 Brisbane Flood ^[1].^: p.12 A.B Wilson was able to survive both crises by temporarily moving his family to Sandgate and acquiring as many little renovation and rebuilding projects as possible. The practice returned to full activity during the early 1900’s. A.B Wilson contracted projects such as the Biscuit Factory for Rankin & Morrow at North Quay and also designed commercial projects for Burns Philp and Bullmore Estate ^[1].^: p.12 Not long after this Wilson designed the home for John Lamb in Kangaroo Point, known to be his most famous domestic project in a traditional Queen Anne style ^[1]: p.12. Subsequently he designed his own residence at Kangaroo Point to illustrate the paper he wrote called ‘Domestic Architecture for Tropical and Sub-Tropical Australia’ ^[1].^: p.12 A.B Wilson’s son Ronald Martin Wilson came to work at the practice from 1908 where he became chief assistant and then his partner in 1920. He then took over the practice after A.B Wilson's passing in 1938 ^[1].^: p.13

Ronald Martin Wilson (1886-1967)

R.M Wilson became the chief architectural assistant in his father’s office five years after he began work in 1903. During this time, R.M. Wilson received a Certificate in Art and Design at the Brisbane Central Technical College ^[1].^: p.13 In 1911, R.M. Wilson was one of the first students to achieve a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland. After completing his tertiary education, he was awarded the Walter and Eliza Hall Travelling Scholarship, allowing him to study Architectural Engineering in the USA for two years ^[1].^: p.13 R.M. Wilson was absent from the family firm for 10 years and returned in 1920, partnering with his father A.B Wilson. The practice was then renamed 'Alex B. & R. Martin Wilson, Architects and Architectural Engineers’ ^[1].^: p.13 The University of Queensland in 1921 awarded R.M. Wilson with its first Master’s Degree in Engineering, which prompted a active decade for the architect-engineer. During his career, R.M. wilson was elected as an Associate of the Queensland Institute of Architects, a Foundation Associate of the Institution of Engineers Australia and was a Chairman of the Town Planning Association of Queensland. R.M. Wilson and A.B. Wilson advocated for the city of Brisbane to have a central city square and proposed their ideas, which were later reduced to what is currently ANZAC square ^[1].^: p.13 In 1924, R.M. Wilson wished to further expand the square to include an open space above the existing arcade parking area between Queen and Adelaide Street; today know as Post Office Square ^[1].^: p.15 In 1928, A.B. Wilson retired, giving R.M. Wilson sole control of the practice to which he changed the name to ‘R.M. Wilson, Architect and Architectural Engineer’ ^[1].^: p.15 Coinciding with A.B. Wilson’s retirement came the Great Depression which limited practicing opportunities. However, R.M. Wilson succeeded to maintain the firm's business by acquiring commission for Gatton’s School of Art and Hill End Presbyterian Church Hall. R.M. Wilson continued practising during the Second World War and assisted Allied Works Council in designing sewerage and waste disposal plants for military institutions ^[1].^: p.15 In 1950, R.M. Wilson received his first major commission, the Presbyterian Church of St Lucia (1952) ^[1].^: p.15. His son, Blair Mansfield Wilson, joined the firm when R.M. Wilson was 70 and continued to assist Blair in the development of his own architectural career, unfortunately passing away in 1967 at the age of 81 ^[1].^: p.16

Blair Mansfield Wilson (1930-2014)

Born in Brisbane in 1930, he attended Brisbane Grammar School and like his father furthered his education at the University of Queensland, studying architecture ^[1].^: p.16 As the final three years of the course was in partnership with the Brisbane Central Technical College, students were able to complete the diploma part-time. Within these final years of formal education Blair began working with his father as well as the firm, Fulton, Job and Collin. Upon graduating from the University of Queensland, Blair received the Queensland Institute of Architects’ Memorial Medal ^[1].^: p.16 After travelling to Europe to visit buildings and civic spaces about which he had learned as a student, Blair worked for Clifford, Tee & Gale who specialised in industrial projects (16). When Blair returned in 1956, he went into partnership with his father R.M. Wilson, renaming the firm 'R. Martin Wilson & Sons' ^[1].^: p.16 As part of the firm at this time, Blair worked on projects such as the Greek Orthodox Church in South Brisbane, the Stanthorpe Civic Centre and the extensions to the University of Queensland’s School of Veterinary Science ^[1].^: p.16 After the death of his father in 1967, Blair renamed the firm 'Blair M. Wilson' then in 1976 retitled again to 'Blair M. Wilson & associate Pty Ltd'. Blair studied the work of Alvar Aalto which influenced his style, noticed in the La Boite Theatre at Kelvin Grove and the Kindler Memorial Theatre ^[1].^: p.19 Other major projects that Blair carried out during his time as principal included the Brisbane Grammar School and Stuartholme School buildings, the Civil Engineering building complex at Queensland Institute of Technology (now QUT), the Engineering and Education complex at the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education, Science buildings at Griffith University and a number of other educational and ministerial projects ^[1].^: p.19 Blair departed from the practice in 1995 and now lives with his wife Elizabeth Ann Wilson in Curigee. His son Hamilton Blair Wilson is currently the managing director of the family firm.

Hamilton Blair Wilson (1961-Present)

Born in Brisbane and is the second son of Blair and Beth Wilson. Hamilton was educated at Brisbane Grammar School and studied architecture at the Queensland Institute of Technology part time whilst simultaneously working for Lund Hutton Ryan Morton ^[1].^: p.20 For his final two years of architectural education, he studied full time at the University of Queensland where he graduated with honours in 1985. Upon his graduation, Hamilton won the A.E. Brooks Prize taking him to London to work for DEGW as a design architect ^[1].^: p.22 In 1989, Hamilton returned to the family practice and was made Director of Wilson Architects in 1995. Hamilton has been involved in award winning projects such as Duhig and Central Libraries of the University of Queensland, the Logan and Gold Coast Campuses of Griffith University as well as the recent buildings at Kooroomba Vineyard ^[1].^: p.22 At present, Hamilton is still acting Director at Wilson Architects.

Post-War Residential Architecture

R. M. Wilson's post war architecture is dominated by the use of vernacular materials and techniques in non-vernacular design. Post-war Australia suffered from austerity measures which limited the materials and skills that were available to Wilson. It is also interesting to note that the houses are not large and most are simple with only the bare necessities in mind, owing to the time of construction.

1947 Red Hill Residence - Remaining

In October 1947, R.M. Wilson proposed a design for the residence of A.W. Schulz in Primrose Terrace, Red Hill, the building remains with minor alterations including a backyard deck and pool. The site has a steep slope from the north (street level) to the south. Due to the slope the house has been raised on stumps which gives the advantage of dealing with flooding and ventilation. Most important it also dealt with the significant problem of termites, effectively keeping the softwood off the ground. ^[2]: p.50 Wilson was influenced by orientation as he aligned the building to the street in an attempt to achieve street presence in the difficult landscape. The post-war period saw a shortage of common building materials and was responsible for the re-emergence of the timber tradition. ^[3].^: p.60 Noticeably from the street, Wilson has used timber weatherboards as cladding on a timber stud frame. Timber was an obvious alternative due to its lightweight construction in the humid Queensland environment. ^[4].^: p.72 The layout of the Red Hill residence is very minimal with 4 rooms in separate corners, however Wilson has slightly altered this common practice by centring the building with a 5th room, the living room. From the street the façade looks symmetrical; the living room extrudes out, centring the building with the 1st bedroom and dining room on either side. The entrance is positioned on the side, which leads up a set of stairs to a humble extruded porch creating an understated appearance. As you enter the house the vestibule continues down to the services (bathroom, toilet, kitchen, storage) with doors on the left and right to bedrooms and the living room. The back entrance acts similarly to the front door entering off a back porch into the kitchen. Climatically, Wilson has thought about how the sun acts in Brisbane by placing bedrooms on the northern side of the building with the living room in the centre. The kitchen and dining room are sacrificial rooms receiving the most sun during the day. As the building is elevated, there is an undercroft space where a reinforced concrete retaining wall runs the width of the storey above. The earth was then excavated to allow for floor joists to sit 2 feet off the ground on reinforced concrete footings. ^[5].^: p.5

1947 South Brisbane Residence - Unknown

The South Brisbane Residence was designed by R. M. Wilson in 1947 for W. Stephens on a large rural block on Miles Platten Road South Brisbane. It is unknown if the residence still stands. The house was designed to service a farm and has a three bedroom main residence, as well as a farm hand quarter and a garage. Each of these functions are given their own discrete building, linked to the main residence through a walkway. Wilson uses the separation of the building to create a hierarchy between the different buildings. The house itself has a large and distinct entrance, whereas the farm hands quarters can only be accessed through the laundry and are directly open to the garage. The house is made of timber stud frame construction arranged around a long thin plan with bedrooms at one end stacked along a corridor opening out into a large living and dining space with a separate kitchen to one side. The services such as the kitchen, laundry and utility closet are all centred together and tucked away from the living and dining spaces. Wilson once again uses vernacular material in a non-vernacular plan by implementing a square vernacular plan for a long sprawling design. The lack of a veranda is a definite and significant development and may be because of the rural setting of the house. However, it does represent a departure from the vernacular and from previous works, particularly the St. Lucia residence. Instead of a veranda, Wilson has installed large banks of casement windows throughout the house. This use of windows instead of a veranda to allow light and ventilation can be seen most obviously in Bedroom 1 and in the dining room where walls on all sides are dominated by banks of windows.

1948 Rocklea Residence - Demolished

In June 1948, R.M. Wilson proposed a scheme on the corner of Cameron (Now Granard Road) and Clare Road in Rocklea for the client, Mrs Corrie. It appears the original building has been demolished and the current lot is a service station. The site is flat therefore there was no need for the building to work in agreement with a sloped landscape. The building was constructed with the floor level elevated 5 steps above ground level, resting on multiple brick piers. This kept the timber floor away from moisture and termites. The walls were typical timber stud-framing with weatherboard cladding. At the time of construction, research shows that “timber frames were becoming popular mainly for their ease of construction and assembly” ^[6].^: p.14 The roof was made of asbestos cement (fibro) sheeting, which was common for the period due to its availability and cost efficiency. The fibro story was a symbol of austerity and cost efficient housing whilst providing an opportunity for people with modest incomes to create their dream home. ^[7] According to Charles Pickett in his work on fibro cement; “the main advantage of using fibro was the ease with which it could be painted” ^[8].^: p.16. As you enter the property, Wilson clearly sought a direct approach with the building positioned 6 metres from each street boundary. The building frames the front porch by placing the living room and bedroom adjacent to the entrance in an L-shape. This is forcing the visitor to be drawn directly to the front porch steps, which are framed by two large permanent flower beds. As you enter the building, you are greeted immediately by the living room door. The building is organized around the hallways which also form an L-shape axis. This is very similar to the layout in the St. Lucia Residence built in the same year. The dining room is at the centre of the building which is accessed in the same hallway as the one that leads to a bedroom and sewing room, with a bathroom as separation. Widely believed that the dining room is a family’s meeting place, it is appropriate that Wilson has positioned this room in the very centre, symbolizing the heart of the home ^[9]. The other hallway leads to the kitchen and laundry with doors off to the biggest bedroom and the sunroom, which is placed strategically to take advantage of the eastern sun. This spatial organisation appears at first to be very complicated however after closer inspection Wilson has effectively combined the needs of the client with the design intention of incorporating a street corner presence. By utilizing vernacular materials and techniques and applying them in this irregular layout, the Rocklea residence is a perfect example of Wilson's architecture Post-war.

1948 St. Lucia Residence - Remaining

The St. Lucia residence was designed by R. M. Wilson in 1948 for Mrs J. M. Hayes. Built on Ironside Road it still stands, although as of September 2013 it has undergone renovations. The site slopes dramatically away from the road into a gully that runs along the back of Ironside Road. This has resulted in the site being terraced to create a entrance level and a multiple level back yard. The house is constructed from timber in a stud frame style and is clad in timber weatherboards. The roofing is made from terracotta tiles that were popular during the early post-war period. The building may once have had timber stumps but they have since been replaced with concrete footings. The building is based around an L-shaped plan, with the bedrooms and bathrooms along one axis and the living room and kitchen along the other. This plan shape is a distinct departure from the inter-war Queensland vernacular design of rectangular or square plans, large gable roofs and enclosing verandas ^[10].^: p.22-24 It is also distinct from the fibro clad houses that became prevalent in the post-war period ^[11].^: p.45 The L-shaped plan takes advantage of the site and allows for the creation of a living room that connects the entrance terrace with the back veranda via French doors. The kitchen is placed at the far end of the living room, in a small alcove but is not hidden away behind a separate wall. This informal treatment of the kitchen is a distinct departure from other post-war works by Wilson, where the kitchen is put far away from the living and dining spaces, hidden away by partitioning walls. The arrangement of these communal spaces across the slope creates an extension of the house into the landscape and a space that is well ventilated and open to views of the gully. The bedrooms, bathroom and study are arranged around a corridor on the other axis. This axis pushes out from the main body of the living room and out along the slope. By protruding the bedrooms out from the main body of the house, they can be opened up so that they can have access to light, views and ventilation from two sides.

Significant Works 1945-75

Commercial Work

R.M. Wilson 1928-1955

1952- St Lucia Presbyterian Church, Swann Rd, St Lucia ^[12]

1954- Blackheath Home for Boys, for the Presbyterian Church of Queensland, Oxley ^[13]

1954- Modern Laboratories for Chemist Roush, Quay St, North Quay ^[14]

1954- Committee of Director of Fruit Marketing Premises, Nambour

R.M. Wilson & Son 1955-1967

1955- W.R. Black Home for Girls for the Presbyterian Church of Queensland, Chelmer ^[15]

1959- Greek Orthodox Church of St George, South Brisbane ^[16]

1959- Residence for Paul Makin, Moggill

1959- Residence for E.I. Ferguson, Francis Tce, Indooroopilly

1960- Committee of Director of Fruit Marketing Premises, Stanthorpe

1963- Services Premises for Ira Berk QLD Pty Ltd, Butterfield St, Herston

1963- Residence for E.A. Hooper, Bramston St, Tarragindi (RAIA commendation 1963)

1964- Radford House School for Queensland Sub Normal Childrens Welfare Association, Buranda

1965- Stanthorpe Shire Council Civic Centre and Library, Stanthorpe

1965- Office and Banana Ripening Premises for Committee of Director of Fruit Marketing, Brisbane Markets, Rocklea

1965- Crematorium for Brisbane Crematorium Ltd, Albany Creek

1966- Country Order Merchant’s Building for the Brisbane market Trust, Sherwood Rd, Fairfield

Blair M. Wilson 1967-1976

1968- Civic Engineering Building and Laboratories, Brisbane Central Technical College (now QUT)

1968- School of Veterinary Science Stage 2, The University of Queensland, St Lucia ^[1]: p.29

1968- Greek Orthodox Sunday School, South Brisbane

1968- Holiday Residence for B.M. and E.A. Wilson, Currigee, South Stradbroke Island

1969- Engineering Building ‘A’, Capricornia Institute of Technology (late University of Central Queensland), Rockhampton

1971- St David’s Church, Salisbury

1972- La Boite Theatre for Brisbane Repertory Theatre, Petrie Tce (Clay Brick Award 1973) ^[1]: p.29

1972- Kindler Memorial Theatre, Queensland Institute of Technology at Gardens Point (RAIA Bronze Medal 1973) ^[1]: p.29

1973- Engineering Building ‘B’, Capricornia Institute of Technology (late University of Central Queensland), Rockhampton

1974- Greek Orthodox Community of St George Club, South Brisbane

1974- Science 1 Building, Griffith University, Nathan ^[1]: p.29

1974- Classrooms, Brisbane Grammar School, Gregory Tce, Spring Hill

1975- Outdoor Education Centre, Brisbane Grammar School, Moogerah

Residential work

R.M. Wilson

1947 - Miles Platen Road, South Brisbane, for W. Stephens

1947 - Primrose Terrace, Red Hill, for A.W. Schulz

1947 - Clifford Street, Surfers Paradise, for H.C. Morrow

1948 - Cameron Road (Now Granard Road), Rocklea, for Mrs Corrie

1948 - Chelford Street, Alderley, for unknown

1948 - Ironside Street, St. Lucia, for J.M Hayes

Blair Wilson

1972 - Eagle Terrace, Sandgate, for J. Wilson

1972 - Brookfield, for W.W Biggs

1973 - Collingwood Street, Ithaca, for M.Trembath

1974 - Esplanade, Currigee, for P.Pozzi

Modern Firm

After four generations the Wilson reputation still holds significant value in Australian architecture. Their commitment to research, professional development and knowledge in a changing environment has enabled them to progress both in the commercial and residential sector. Hamilton Wilson, Blair and Beth’s second son is the current managing director and with his guidance the firm has undertaken a number of projects around Brisbane. Most recent projects include:

Living

King’s College Centenary Building (2012) ^[17]

Learning

Translational Research Institute (2012) ^[18]

Laboratories

Centre for Advance Imaging, University of Queensland (2013) (in association with John Wardle Architects)

Workplace

Griffith Business School G42 (in progress) ^[19]

Recent Awards

• 2013 AIA FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture for Translational Research Institute (Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill Architects in Association) ^[20]
• 2013 AIA GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture for Translational Research Institute (Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill Architects in Association) ^[21]
• 2013 AIA QLD State Commendation - Sustainable Architecture for Translational Research Institute (Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill Architects in Association) ^[22]
• 2013 AIA John Dalton Award for Building of the Year (joint award) for Translational Research Institute (Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill Architects in Association) ^[23]
• 2013 AIA Brisbane Regional Commendation Public Architecture for Translational Research Institute (Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill Architects in Association) ^[24]
• 2013 AIA Brisbane Regional Commendation Interior Architecture for Translational Research Institute (Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill Architects in Association) ^[25]
• 2013 AIA Brisbane Regional Commendation Sustainable Architecture for Translational Research Institute (Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill Architects in Association) ^[26]
• 2012 AIA South Aust - Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture for UniSA Mineral and Materials Building by John Wardle Architects in Association with Swanbury Penglase ^[27]
• 2012 AIA Qld State Award - Public Architecture for UQ Ipswich Auditorium ^[28]
• 2012 AIA Qld State Award - Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing for King's College Centenary Building AIA Brisbane Regional Commendation ^[29]
• 2012 AIA Darling Downs Regional Commendation - Public Architecture for UQ Ipswich Auditorium ^[30]
• 2012 AIA William Hodgen Award for Building of the Year for UQ Ipswich Auditorium ^[31]

Reference List

External Links

• http://www.wilsonarchitects.com.au/
• http://www.laboite.com.au