Open House Melbourne

Open House Melbourne 2012 invites visitors and residents to discover more of Melbourne’s vast assortment of contemporary and historical buildings, allowing enquiring minds a once-a-year chance to inspect what’s going on behind the facade.

Now in its fifth year, the annual event ushers architectural appreciators through dozens of buildings that are usually off-limits to the public. This year 100 buildings are taking part in the Open House weekend, forty of them for the first time.

The assortment of structures include majestic picture palaces, opulent art deco office buildings, major cultural institutions, stately government buildings, as well as some of the city’s most well-known churches and sporting venues.

Throwing open their doors (along with hatches, curtains and elevators) further new additions to the program this year include a range of residential buildings like the Hive Graffiti Apartments. There is also a chance to gain access to the towers at Royal Melbourne Hospital which offer unencumbered views of the city skyline.

For building buff’s wanting more than a gander there’s also a range of talks and tours over the weekend covering lighting, bikes and sound. Our top tip: plan your hit list, arrive early and remember to look up.

Open House Melbourne is on from July 28 – 29.
To dig a little deeper visit openhousemelbourne.org