Jasmax
Professional services
UnclaimedJasmax is a New Zealand multidisciplinary architecture and design practice working across architecture, interiors, landscape, urban design, conservation, and sustainable design.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Jasmax is a multidisciplinary architecture and design practice headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. The firm has operated since 1963, when it was established under the name JASMaD by five directors: Stephen A. Jelicich, John Austin, Graham Smith, Ivan Mercep, and Rodney Davies. Its work spans architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design, building conservation, and sustainable architecture, giving the practice a scope broader than that of a conventional building-design studio. A major organizational turning point came in 1989, when JASMaD merged with two smaller practices: Bossley Cheshire Architects, associated with Pete Bossley and Pip Cheshire, and Gibbs Harris, associated with Richard Harris and David Gibbs. The combined practice adopted the name Jasmax. Bossley served as a director from 1989 to 1996, while Cheshire remained a director from 1989 to 2003. The merger expanded the firm's design capability and helped establish the multidisciplinary structure associated with the Jasmax name. Jasmax has developed a strong profile in cultural design, particularly through projects that engage with Māori, Pasifika, and wider Indigenous perspectives. In 2015, the practice established Waka Māia, a team of Māori and Pasifika designers. The name, gifted by Haare Williams, refers to a courageous and hopeful journey forward. Elisapeta Heta is identified with the establishment and development of the team. In 2019, Jasmax introduced a manifesto intended to elevate the cultural design conversation in New Zealand. Its stated approach is collaborative: Indigenous design is developed alongside Māori, Pasifika, and First Nations communities from the conception of a project through to its completion. Sustainability is another central part of the practice's positioning. In 2020, Jasmax launched its Pathway to Net Zero Carbon Design, with an objective of achieving carbon-neutral buildings by 2030. This work connects environmental performance with a broader design philosophy focused on relationships among culture, nature, and the built environment. A notable outcome was the University of Auckland's B201 building, designed by Jasmax and awarded a six Green Star rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council in 2023. The rating was described as the highest Green Star certification achieved by a building in New Zealand at that time. The practice has offices across New Zealand and has expanded into Australia. It opened a Sydney studio in 2022 and a Melbourne studio in 2025. The firm has been described as having approximately 260 staff and as being internationally recognised for cultural design. Leadership mentioned in available reference material includes Sjoerd Post, who was CEO in 2019, Matthew Glubb, who was a principal in that period and became CEO in 2023, and the directors and designers connected with the firm's earlier merger and cultural-design development. Jasmax's current brand proposition is therefore built around integrated design services, community and cultural engagement, and environmental responsibility rather than a consumer product line.
History
Jasmax traces its origins to 1963, when five directors—Stephen A. Jelicich, John Austin, Graham Smith, Ivan Mercep, and Rodney Davies—formed the practice known as JASMaD. From the beginning, the firm's work covered more than a single architectural specialization. Its service range developed across architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design, conservation, and environmentally responsive design. The practice was reshaped in 1989 through a merger with two smaller New Zealand architectural practices. Bossley Cheshire Architects, associated with Pete Bossley and Pip Cheshire, and Gibbs Harris, associated with Richard Harris and David Gibbs, joined JASMaD. The enlarged organization adopted the name Jasmax. Pete Bossley served as a director between 1989 and 1996, while Pip Cheshire held a directorship from 1989 to 2003. This period helped consolidate Jasmax as a broad-based design practice rather than a narrowly focused architecture office. Jasmax's later identity became increasingly associated with cultural design and collaboration with Indigenous communities. In 2015, it established Waka Māia, a team of Māori and Pasifika designers. The name was gifted by Haare Williams and conveys the idea of a courageous and hopeful journey forward. Elisapeta Heta is identified as a core participant in the team's establishment and development. In 2019, Jasmax adopted a manifesto that sought to elevate the cultural design conversation in New Zealand. The practice describes its Indigenous design work as a collaborative process involving Māori, Pasifika, and First Nations communities throughout the life of a project, from early conception to completion. Environmental design became another explicit strategic priority. Jasmax launched its Pathway to Net Zero Carbon Design in 2020, setting an ambition to achieve carbon-neutral buildings by 2030. The initiative sits within a wider design philosophy that links culture, nature, and the built environment. The University of Auckland's B201 provided a prominent example of this approach when it received a six Green Star rating in 2023. The building was described as the highest-rated Green Star-certified building in New Zealand. The firm's geographic footprint has extended beyond New Zealand. Its head office is in Auckland, and it has offices across New Zealand. In Australia, Jasmax opened a Sydney studio in 2022 and a Melbourne studio in 2025. Available reference material describes the practice as having approximately 260 staff and as internationally recognised for cultural design. Leadership has included Sjoerd Post as CEO in 2019 and Matthew Glubb as CEO from 2023, after Glubb had served as a principal. Jasmax remains an active professional-services brand whose work combines architecture, interiors, landscape, urbanism, conservation, sustainability, and culturally informed design.
- 2025
Melbourne studio opens
[1]Jasmax expands its Australian studio network to Melbourne.
- 2023
B201 receives six Green Star rating
[1]The University of Auckland's B201, designed by Jasmax, receives a six Green Star rating.
- 2023
Matthew Glubb becomes CEO
[1]Matthew Glubb is appointed chief executive officer after serving as a principal of the practice.
- 2022
Sydney studio opens
[1]Jasmax establishes its first Australian studio in Sydney.
- 2020
Net-zero design pathway launches
[1]Jasmax launches its Pathway to Net Zero Carbon Design, targeting carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.
- 2019
Cultural design manifesto is introduced
[1]The practice adopts a manifesto aimed at elevating the cultural design conversation in New Zealand.
- 2015
Waka Māia is established
[1]Jasmax creates a Māori and Pasifika design team focused on strengthening Indigenous design practice.
- 1989
Merger creates Jasmax
[1]JASMaD merges with Bossley Cheshire Architects and Gibbs Harris and adopts the Jasmax name.
- 1963
JASMaD is established
[1]The practice begins operating under the name JASMaD, founded by Stephen A. Jelicich, John Austin, Graham Smith, Ivan Mercep, and Rodney Davies.
Products and positioning
A multidisciplinary New Zealand design practice positioned around integrated architecture, cultural design, Indigenous engagement, and sustainability. Jasmax combines architectural and urban disciplines with interior, landscape, conservation, and environmental design capabilities.
Architectural services · 1963
Architecture
Jasmax provides architectural design across a broad range of building and development contexts. Its architectural work is presented as part of an integrated practice that can combine building design with interiors, landscape, urban design, conservation, sustainability, and cultural engagement.
Interior design services · 1963
Interior design
The practice's interior-design capability forms part of its multidisciplinary service model. Interior work can be coordinated with architectural, cultural, environmental, and public-realm considerations rather than treated as a separate decorative service.
Landscape services · 1963
Landscape architecture
Jasmax undertakes landscape architecture as one of its established professional disciplines, integrating outdoor environments and public-realm design with buildings, urban settings, ecological considerations, and relationships to place.
Urban design services · 1963
Urban design
Urban design is part of Jasmax's multidisciplinary offer. The service addresses the relationship among buildings, streets, public spaces, landscape, movement, and wider patterns of urban development.
Conservation services
Building conservation
Jasmax includes building conservation among its professional capabilities, allowing the practice to work with existing and historically significant structures alongside new architectural and urban interventions.
Cultural design practice · 2015
Waka Māia
Waka Māia is Jasmax's Māori and Pasifika design team, established in 2015. It supports the practice's cultural-design work and its engagement with Indigenous perspectives and communities.
Sustainable design strategy · 2020
Pathway to Net Zero Carbon Design
Launched in 2020, this sustainability pathway sets an ambition for carbon-neutral buildings by 2030 and connects environmental performance with Jasmax's broader relationship among culture, nature, and design.
Brand decisions
2022
Australian studio expansionStrategyBackground
Jasmax pursued a wider regional presence beyond its New Zealand base.
Action taken
The firm opened a studio in Sydney, followed by a Melbourne studio in 2025.
Aftermath
The expansion gave Jasmax an established studio presence in two Australian cities.
2020
Pathway to Net Zero Carbon DesignStrategyBackground
Growing emphasis on building emissions and environmental performance led Jasmax to formalize a long-term sustainability objective.
Action taken
The practice launched a pathway targeting carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.
Aftermath
The strategy became part of Jasmax's broader design philosophy linking culture, nature, and the built environment.
2019
Cultural design manifestoStrategyBackground
The practice identified cultural design as an area in which it wanted to influence professional discussion in New Zealand.
Action taken
Jasmax introduced a manifesto focused on elevating the cultural design conversation.
Aftermath
The manifesto provided a stated framework for the firm's culturally engaged design approach.
2015
Establishment of Waka MāiaStrategyBackground
Jasmax sought to strengthen Māori and Pasifika participation and Indigenous perspectives within its design practice.
Action taken
The firm established Waka Māia, a team of Māori and Pasifika designers.
Aftermath
The team became a central element of Jasmax's approach to cultural design and community engagement.
Sources1 sources
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