With spring taking a firm grasp on Melbourne, it is time for a well overdue post on Melbourne Open House 2013 .
Occasionally I receive a comment along the lines of Architecture is a luxury only for those who can afford it. However in Melbourne at least, brilliant public architecture is all around us. And for one weekend a year, over 100 buildings open their doors to see behind the scenes for free!
This post is a photographic essay of images taken over both days in our wonderful city.
Council House 2
This building is an experiment in environmental sustainability conceived by a collaboration between Melbourne City Council and Design Inc. It has achieved remarkable results from an environmental viewpoint whilst also progressing our knowledge about which technologies work well in practice. Click here for further information
The Operable Timber Facade of Council House 2
Within the environmentally experimental office space
View from between the timber screens
View from the rooftop at the Manchester Unity Building and Swanston Street
Old Treasury Building
The Old Treasury was designed in 1857 by John James Clark when he was just nineteen years old. It is considered one of Melbourne’s best examples of Renaisance Revival Architecture
To find out more visit www.oldtreasurybuilding.org.au
Facade Detail
Architectural elevation by Architect John James Clark on display within
lighting chandelier
The gold vaults below
Vaulted ceiling texture
Russell Place Substation
The Russell Place substation is an unusual place for a tour, but as you can see below there is no shortage of people fascinated by what happens beneath.
This is not a queue for a club or show. It is in fact a 2 hour long line to tour the Russell Place substation
A scene from deep below Russell Place
Live equipment on show
Not a scene from that alien movie
Royal Melbourne Hospital Tunnels and Helipad
The opportunity to see the very lowest and highest points of the Royal Melbourne Hospital was too good to refuse. The hospital was founded in 1848 and was moved to the current site in Parkville in 1944.
Services tunnels surrounding the Royal Melbourne Hospital
1939 Blueprints on display for the tour
View from the rooftop helipad
For more information on Open House Melbourne visit their website
http://www.openhousemelbourne.org/
Architecture is for everyone
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