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James Russell is a "Brisbane"-based award-winning architect whose work merges natural elements with forms.

Career
James Russell's professional career started in 2000 when he moved to "Dublin", "Ireland" with his wife Trish to work for an architect named "Tom dePaor", who made a vital contribution to the revitalization of central "Dublin". The "Irish" architect was spotted in the "Dublin" bayside suburb of Howth, then was “pestered” to let James work with him. It was the renovation of two upper floors of a "Georgian" mansion in "Dublin" that James "got his hands dirty".

James was profoundly influenced by the architectural style of his mentor – "Tom dePaor". James had opportunities to design, build alongside with Tom and observe his experimental meanderings within a “beautiful skinny building on the wrong side of town”, on his own house near Croke Park, "Dublin". Maintaining a balance between designing and making remains a main theory of James’s practice today.

After two years spent in "Ireland", James and his wife traveled back to "Brisbane" to establish their practice. Purchasing an old masonry church in inner-city Fortitude Valley, James had a chance to test his own idea with the restoration of the "neo-Gothic" structure.

Design Philosophy
James Russell architect is a design-based practice known for developing ideas using traditional pen on paper and models. Their design process of James Russell starts from sketches and cardboard models in the early stages of a project, and then moves to 3d modeling and the drawings will be cut directly from the digital model, including details for steel and concrete, etc.

The architecture practice is made up of design professionals that build, using this as a tool for investigating and developing knowledge of materials and the way they can be put together. They are known for exploring architecture through making.

James Russell's designs encourage inhabitants to interact with the environment and surrounding neighbourhoods, not only through air-conditioning, but also building orientation, plan and section, insulation and adjustable skins.

Notable Projects
James Russell's notable designs include:


 * Mareebra Road House - 2002
 * Instow Street House - 2002
 * Trafalgar Street House - 2005
 * Violet Street House - 2006
 * "Brookes Street House" - 2006
 * "Sanctuary Place House" - 2007
 * "Toomba Avenue House" - 2008
 * "Brookes Street Office North" - 2009
 * "Raven Street House" - 2011
 * "Boston Street House" - 2013
 * "Bisley Place House" – 2013

Raven Street House
"Raven Street House" is an alteration of and addition to a traditional worker’s cottage in the inner Brisbane suburb of West End. According to the words of the architect, like many of his other designs, the "Raven Street House" was inspired by a boat from his childhood, named Makaira. “Like Makaira, it is protective of the owner’s young family and artwork but creates a greater awareness of the country surrounding the structure”. From the word of Peter Skinner, the richness of this house “has a marvelous fractal scaling” that seems to confirm "Mies van der Rohe’s" famous saying, “God is in the details”. The "Raven Street House" received high commendation from the "Australian Institute of Architects" in 2011.

Bisley Place House
Bisley Place House is an award-winning house from the architect James Russell. The project won Australian House of the Year and New House over 200m² from the "Houses Awards", as well as the two awards from the "Australian Institute of Architects", the State Winner Residential and Robin Dods Award. “The project’s design was praised by the jury for succeeding in creating an opportunity where none seemingly existed, and rethinking the possibilities that architecture offers Australian suburbia”.

Awards
In 2006, James Russells won the State award of alterations and additions for his Violet Street House from the "Australian Institute of Architects". In the same year, his "Brookes Street House" also won the Robin Dods award and the award for residential design.

In 2007, his "Sanctuary Place House" was awarded Brisbane House of the year, also by the "AIA".

In 2011, James won his first national award by the "Australian Interior Design Awards", the award of colour in residential design, for his contribution to the "Raven Street House".

In 2013, James won several awards for his designs of "Bisley Place House" and "Boston Street House", including Queensland's Winner Residential and Robin Dods award, from the "AIA", and Australian House of the Year, New House over 200m² and House Alteration & Addition under 200m² from the "Houses Awards".

James was three times runner-up of the awards of "IDEA", also having several designs receiving commendation from different organizations.