The Blueprint Studio

Blueprint architects is a bespoke architectural practise working in South-East QLD and Northern NSW. We strive to create architecture that is, functional and enduring, our focus is to provide a consistent, experienced and personalised service. We pride ourselves on developing collaborative relationships, we listen to our clients needs, many of whom return for multiple projects. We translate the brief and consider the customer or inhabitant the of the buildings. Specialisation in the following sectors, Hospitality, Commercial, Educational and Residential architecture. The practise benefits from extensive knowledge of bar and hotel operation, gained by co-owning several successful hospitality venues and undertaking numerous developments in-house and collaboration with clients.

At Blueprint Architects, we believe enduring architecture begins with understanding - of people, place and purpose. Every project is approached with curiosity and consideration, allowing us to distil complex needs into clear, confident design outcomes. Our studio remains intentionally small, ensuring every project benefits from thoughtful attention, open communication and a genuine commitment to quality. We value design that feels intuitive, refined and grounded in real-world experience.

Kylie Forbes | Architect | Director

Bachelor of Architecture – QUT 1999
Registered Queensland Board of Architects – rego number 3441
Member Australian Institute of Architects 2001- 2012
Secondary Matriculation, Moreton Bay College

Kylie has boundless enthusiasm for her clients, a curious personality, and a wholistic design approach to her practise of architecture. Kylie thrives on understanding opportunities, not just in architecture but in business. She will push the boundaries to ensure value for her clients. During her Bachelor of Architecture degree, she wrote a thesis on the Adaptive reuse of buildings.  This study drives her projects to reuse, and therefore extend the life of structures, with a modern reimagined approach. Kylie demonstrates her strength when transforming an existing building, into a new purpose, she understands the value of property economics and value adding.

Her career was shaped between1990 – 2002, when she worked for several established Brisbane Architectural practises, across a broad range of project types, from Northern NSW to outback Queensland and Far North Qld, providing a varied experience and strong foundation of various regions. Kylie Forbes founded Blueprint Architects in 2002, and by 2003 designed and co-owned a hospitality business, a property development company and started building her own residential homes.   Kylie is a highly skilled architect, a great communicator, deeply engaging and able to see the strategic business overview of the project.

James Forbes | Architect | Director

Bachelor of Architecture – QUT 1999
Registered Queensland Board of Architects- Rego number 3440
Member Australian Institute of Architects-2001 till current date
Secondary Matriculation, Anglican Church Grammar School

James’ architectural approach is clear and simple, focusing on producing work that is functional, commercially driven and enduring. Renowned for his clarity of thought, and developed listening skills, he is able to absorb client needs, process complex information, and deliver well resolved concepts, efficiently.

After completing a B.Arch and thesis in pub design at QUT, James specialised in hospitality and educational design working with Brand and Slater Architects (BSPN), becoming a director of that practise from 1997 – 2003. James completed numerous projects during that time ranging from pubs (such as Normanby Hotel and Port Office Hotel) to backpacker resorts (Gilligan’s Cairns), as well as many school buildings for various independent secondary schools in Brisbane. In 2003 James joined Blueprint Architects, with Kylie Forbes in the practise. One of Blueprint’s first projects was designing and founding Cru Bar and Cellar on James Street in partnership, and subsequently Sixes and Sevens. Gaining first-hand insight into what helps makes a venue thrive, James’ experience in this sector extends further than most architects, giving him a rare understanding of both design and operations, whilst specialising in hospitality, James believes that the real key to the success of any project involves listening and interpreting a clients needs.

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Featured on Grand Designs, Kevin Mcleod Episode 1 “Australia’s Top 5 houses”, Season 12, 2024
Project: One Surf

Featured on Grand Designs Transformations, Season 2, 2026 (coming soon)
Project: Treehouse Teneriffe

Featured on Better Homes & Gardens, Joanna Griggs w/ Peter Colquen Episode 25, Season 20, 2014
Project: Courtyard House

AIA – 2025 - Residential award – One Surf

Eat Drink Design – 2025 finalist best bar design – Cru bar and Cellar

Logan Council Design Award – Beenleigh Rum Distillery

HIA House of the Year – 2014 – Courtyard house

AIA – 2013 - Residential award – Courtyard House

Master Builders House of the Year – 2013 – Courtyard House

Eat Drink Design – 2013 finalist best bar design – Sixes and Sevens Bar

AIA - 2004 - Commercial award for Normanby Hotel

AIA - 2004 - Commercial award for Gilligan’s Backpackers Hotel

AIA - 2004 - Commercial award for Griffith University Campus Club

IIDA – 2004 - Interior design national finalist for Cru Bar and Cellar

Feature in Qld Homes Magazine – 2014

Feature in Belle Magazine – 2013 - Sixes and Sevens Bar

Special Feature – 2012 - Ask the Expert, Kylie Forbes: Houses Magazine

Featured in Houses magazine – 2008 - Knoll Maleny house

Featured in Vogue Magazine – 2004 - Cru Bar and Cellar

Qantas Magazine – Cru bar, Sixes and Sevens

Cru bar received hall of fame status in several categories of the Australian wine list awards in 2025,  and has now become Australia’s most awarded venue of all time including:

  • Best Listing of USA Wines (2025): Won this category award in the 2025 awards.

  • Gourmet Traveller WINE Hall of Fame: Cru's cellar is also listed in this publication's
    Hall of Fame. 

  • Australia's Wine List of the Year (2022):Top overall national prize: In what Chairman of Judges Peter Forrestal called the culmination of "20 years at the top of its game," Cru Bar
    and cellar

  • National Hall of Fame (2022): The venue was inducted into the Hall of Fame for consistently winning major awards over many years,

  • Best Wine Bar List Hall of Fame: Inducted into the hall of fame for this category in 2022 after multiple wins in 2015, 2021, 2022

  • Best Champagne List Hall of Fame: Cru's extensive list earned it a place in the Hall of Fame for this category in 2022, after winning in 2018, 2021 and 2022.

  • Best Wine List By The Glass Hall of Fame (2022): After winning this category in 2017, 2020, and 2021, Cru was added to the Hall of Fame.

  • Best Wine List Queensland Hall of Fame (2022): Recognised as a four-time winner of the Best Queensland Wine List (2004, 2009, 2015, and 2021). 

Other Award Winning Venues Blueprint Has Designed:

QHA – 2024 - Best beer garden - Jacobs Well Hotel

QHA – 2019 - Best casual dining - Glen Hotel

QHA – 2019 - Hotel of the year - Glen Hotel

QHA – 2015 - Best new accommodation hotel resort - Glen Hotel

QHA – 2009 - Best functions operation / Facility - Glen Hotel

QHA – 2006 - Pineapple Hotel

QHA other winners: Port Office Hotel, Normanby Hotel

2 Decades of Blueprint

The Archive