JAWS Architects

JAWS Architects is one of Tasmania’s leading architectural practices, evolving from the Hobart practice founded by Harry Hope in the 1930s. Today the firm is led by Scott Verdouw and Hanz Lee as Directors, with Chris Egan recently joining as Director. Scott Verdouw brings deep experience in construction systems, modular housing, and design resolution; Hanz Lee contributes technical innovation, material exploration and new technologies in the firm’s workflow; Chris Egan strengthens their leadership with strong client relationships and design oversight across major project sectors.

One of the most celebrated is the Three Capes Track Cabins on the Tasman Peninsula, three prefabricated huts flown in by helicopter, designed to sit lightly in dramatic landscape while addressing harsh environmental constraints. Other standouts include the Shorehouse Addition at Pumphouse Point, which expands a historic accommodation pavilion with sensitivity to heritage and landscape. The Stringybark Residence is another example: sculptural in form, oriented to views and connection with landscape, with internal courtyards and use of natural materials.

JAWS has won many state and national awards. Among them: the Three Capes Track Cabins won several awards for commercial architecture and tourism infrastructure. Their interior work was recognised in the Legislative Council Chambers upgrade, a project commended in the 2020 Tasmanian Architecture Awards. Projects such as Pumphouse Point Shorehouse Addition and the Minallo House Extension, have also been awarded or commended. Neal Mackintosh, formerly Managing Director, was named a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2020 in recognition of contributions over many years across multiple project types.

JAWS Architects emphasises architecture that is sensitive to context, natural, cultural, environmental. They tackle projects with technical rigour, especially when working in remote or challenging locations, integrating prefabrication or modular systems when appropriate. Their design approach balances client vision, functional requirements, and sustainability: energy efficiency, material choice, passive design responses. Heritage and adaptive reuse are handled with respect for existing fabric. Collaboration is central, and shaping experiences through forms, light, landscape and place is a consistent theme. Their work aims to be durable, meaningful, responsive to place, yet both creative and pragmatic.