Adelaide’s JPE Design turns 160 this year and to celebrate they will be showcasing a “visual essay “of the companies work.

As Australia’s oldest architecture design firm, JPE has hundreds of buildings under its belt, including the iconic Adelaide Railway Station,

The show, ‘Designing Place in South Australia — a Retrospective Exhibition’ , will see hundreds of the firm’s projects will be on display including:

  • Charles Moore Department store in Victoria Square (now Sir Samuel Way Law Courts Building)
  • A number of Adelaide’s hotels such as the Stag, Maid and Magpie, and the Elephant and Castle
  • Sustainable building office developments including The Edge and The Wave
The exhibition will be officially opened on Friday with guests including Earl Scott, director of the firm between 1959 and 1993.

“It’s marvelous to see the company is staying true to its roots of innovation and contemporary design. I very much look forward to taking a step back in time in this exhibition and celebrate all of the firm’s accomplishments that have helped shape South Australian history,” Mr Scott says.

The Edge and Wave

Over 500 of the firm’s building designs from 1869 until the 1930s are held in the Mortlock Library of South Australia for the heritage of the State.

The show will also include a section of replica images of the of the buildings designs that are held in

JPE’s current director Adrian Evans says the design firm had always tried to be on the cutting edge of design.

Adelaide Railway Station was originally designed by JPE

“When it was designed in 1925, the Adelaide Railway Station was Australia’s grandest railway station. It was modeled on New York’s Grand Central Terminal and was built as an impressive entrance to the city,” he said

“Now, in step with a national interest to be sustainable and minimise our carbon footprint, we’re committed to delivering sustainable designs. Our recently completed project, The Edge, has been awarded a 5 Star Greenstar Rating, and we have received a number of awards for sustainable architecture.”

‘Designing Place in South Australia — a Retrospective Exhibition’ will take place at The Wave, Level 4 19 Gilles Street Adelaide and will be during office hours between 21st October- 18th November.