Connect with Jo
Genus Loci - “sense of place”
Jo Gillies is a Sydney based architect who is passionate about achieving 'smart design' principles that change the way we look at the traditional home and commercial layout.
Jo believes that great design principles create spaces for which the soul can be inspired whether they are commercial, residential, brand new or renovated designs. Genus Loci - “sense of place”.
Having established her own practice on the beachside environs of the Northern Beaches in 1997 Jo values the virtues of open space, fresh air and beachside living. These ideas have played a large part in the way that Jo encompasses these design principles through her work. Designing in all environs has been an evolving understanding over the years.
Paramount to Jo's work is high quality design principles, a symbiotic relationship between the built and natural environments and a responsibility to the long-term affects of ecologically sustainable design theory. The sacred balance between masculine and femininity within great spaces and buildings is an aspirational journey for Jo.
Jo holds Bachelor of Science Architecture/ Bachelor Architecture from the University of Sydney. Her career highlights include being invited to design a series of 18 contemporary terraces at Agnes Waters/1770, Queensland to tutoring at the University of New South Wales and Sydney University. She also enjoys meeting amazing clients also inspired by exciting design principles brave enough to go outside of the normal box. She has recently been approached to design a healing centre for the Aborigines and a Quoll house for the extinct quolls in Eastern NSW.
When she is not designing amazing architecture, Jo enjoys her 2 early morning training sessions to keep fit for her Tae Kwon do 1st Dan/black belt which was a recent achievement. Jo also recently gained her Bronze medallion and is a volunteer lifesaver at Long Reef beach. Jo is also researching for a book on the sacred balance between Masculine and Feminine in Architecture. She enjoys watching movies with a glass of red and confesses to secretly feasting on the visuals of movie set designs and discussing the merits of film design.
New in the Jo Gillies Column
The Beauty of Public spaces
Exciting and well-designed Public spaces always fascinate me as they so beautifully integrate how people use a space and how they interact with each other. They are like a beehive with zealous, energetic activity and moments of calm reflection within the everyday busyness.
The main extrinsic aim of a well- designed public space is to connect [...]
Architecture and the Feminine
It is a conundrum however as the great buildings and ancient sites around the world are either masculine or feminine – but rarely do a few handfuls in the built environment achieve the sacred balance between the two.
Read more…
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