Don’t let a bit of damp weather around the region put a dampener on your list of things to do. One great idea is to head up the road to check out what it is like behind the scenes of some of Melbourne’s iconic buildings.
Open House Melbourne is back in 2012 for its fifth year on the weekend of July 28 and 29, this time with a record 100 buildings open.
The program features a range of themes, including: medical facilities, gardens in the sky, residential housing and underground sites. Visitors will learn not just about the history of the Melbourne’s built form, but about the city itself.
Last year the open house program attracted a record 106,000 visitors and this year the program is being expanded by the addition of 40 new buildings. The program is free and allows visitors to discover a hidden wealth of architectural, engineering and historic buildings nestled around the city.
Some of our favorite historic buildings worth checking out include the Melbourne Town Hall, the Myer Mural Hall, The Hotel Windsor and the Shrine of Remembrance. The crazy modern Federation Square is also worth a look; its amazing passive cooling labyrinth hidden beneath your feet is one part of the complex that few people ever see.
The full program of 100 buildings will be released on 13 June. Anyone interested in visiting the Open House Melbourne weekend should visit www.openhousemelbourne.org for a full run down on locations and times.