Perth will once again open the doors to its most architecturally significant sites, as part of Open House Perth.
Taking place this weekend (11 to 12 November), the 2017 program features over 100 buildings and locations across the full breadth of the city. This includes more than 40 new additions to the program from last year.
Among the list of buildings that will open their thresholds to the public are “several homes that show it’s not about how much space you have, but how you use it”. On show will be a demonstration of how implementing reclaimed materials, small blocks and landscaping can help architects make the most of their context and its readily available materials to harness passive design principles.
With only a couple of days until Open House Perth weekend kicks off, we’ve put together a few of our favourite buildings to get you started.
BRICKWORKS DESIGN STUDIO
Image: Brickworks Australia
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Where: 67 King Street, Perth
The Brickworks Design Studio on King Street will be transformed into a pseudo-gallery space over the Open House Perth weekend, exhibiting photographs from Perth architectural photographer, Dion Robeson. On display will be photographs of local architectural projects featuring the use of Austral Bricks. The studio was designed by Fratelle Group.
HOUSE A
Image: Whispering Smith
When: Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 2pm
Where: 33 Scalby Street, Scarborough
House A – designed by Whispering Smith – is the first of three carbon-neutral dwellings in Scarborough. The home, a three-storey “mini-tower” with garage beneath and a loft on top, has been made from high recycled content concrete panels and whitewashed recycled brick.
QV1
Photography by Joel Barbitta
When: Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth
Designed by architect Harry Seidler, this 40-storey tower won a multitude of state and national design awards upon its completion in 1991. The focus of this building is the people’s plaza, a public space with a waterfall, palm trees and a meandering pool that sit amidst a cacophony of city commerce.
WITH_ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
Image: With_Architecture
When: Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 2pm
Where: 346 William Street, Perth
With_Architecture Studio is the only architecture practice in Australia to be certified carbon-neutral. Located in a recently converted Northbridge warehouse, the studio design provides a flexible and collaborative working space, a small gallery for contemporary art, and large presentation spaces.
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS – WA CHAPTER
Image: Mondoluce
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 33 Broadway, Nedlands
The building was originally designed and built as a showroom for furniture designer David Foulkes-Taylor by architect Julius Elischer in 1965. In 2005, it was purchased by the Institute of Architects, and now houses both the Institute and the Architects Board of WA.
EXPLODING! SHED HOUSE
Photography by Dion Robeson
When: Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Where: 117b West Parade, Mount Lawley
Built in the backyard of a sub-divided bungalow property, this one-bed, one-bath home by David Weir Architects fulfils the goal of a simple suburban residence while respecting its place and location. The materials used inside and out split the building into weatherboard cottage and corrugated studio.
SUSTAINABILITY IN SUBI
Image: Paul Wellington and Elizabeth Karol
When: Sunday, 10am – 2pm
Where: 199 Hamersley Road, Subiaco
This house has been designed by Paul Wellington and Elizabeth Karol using passive design principles – for instance, careful orientation, appropriate shading devices, significant use of insulation, the use of thermal mass and extensive cross-ventilation. The majority of the structure and cladding was prefabricated offsite to reduce material waste during construction.
HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE
Photography by Robert Garvey
When: Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Where: 825 Hay Street, Perth
Designed by William G. Wolf, His Majesty's Theatre is an Edwardian Baroque theatre which was constructed between 1902 to 1904, during Perth's gold rush period. When the theatre was opened, it was the largest in Australia, with seating for over 2,500 people. It is also thought to be the first reinforced concrete building constructed in Perth.
CITY OF PERTH LIBRARY
Image: City of Perth Library
When: Sunday, 12 – 4pm
Where: 573 Hay Street, Perth
Designed by Kerry Hill Architects, the City of Perth Library features 3,500 square metres of floor area and features a triple-storey reading room, AV/multi-function meeting rooms, a green wall, and a double-height winter garden for the children’s area. For the Open House Perth program, the architects will present two talks to explain their approach to the project.
CURTIN FAMILY HOME
Image: National Trust of WA
When: Sunday, 1 – 4pm
Where: 24 Jarrad Street, Cottesloe
This house was home to former prime minister, John Curtin. His home remained a refuge for him during rare wartime visits to Perth before his death during office in 1945. Four generations of Curtin’s extended family lived here before it was purchased by the Australian and Western Australian governments in 1998.
