Gold Coast Open House will open the doors of interesting, quirky and architecturally significant buildings and locations.
Following the city’s first Open House last October, this year’s free event will once again invite the general public to take a behind the scenes look at places not typically open for public viewing.
Famous for its interwar and post-war development boom, and tourism and recreational industries, the Gold Coast has a unique and varied array of buildings.
Gold Coast Open House 2016 will take place on Saturday, 5 November.
Here are a few of our favourite places to check out:
ABEDIAN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BOND UNIVERSITY
When: 10am – 4pm
Where: 14 University Drive, Robina
Ultra-modern and bold in design yet practical in function, this building designed by CRAB Studios acts as a teaching tool where theory comes to life, inspiring innovation and creativity among architecture students. Design features include floating mezzanine, spiral staircases and internal ‘streets’.
QT GOLD COAST
When: 9am – 2pm
Where: 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise
New Australian owners, Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL) refurbished the hotel and launched the QT Hotels and Resorts brand in 2011, opening the QT Gold Coast. Design mastermind Nic Graham wanted to take visitors on a 1950s inspired journey to a cool, clean, beach club-style resort.
THE ECOVILLAGE AT CURRUMBIN
When: 10am – 3pm
Where: 639 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley
This international and multi award-winning clean, green community was conceived in the late 1990s by friends passionate about sustainable living. About 350 adults, 100 children and several small businesses operate from 150 houses of all sizes, built on 270 hectares of southernmost Gold Coast hinterland bushland.
PATIO HOUSE AT DOLPHIN COURT
When: 10 – 11.30am
Where: 29 Dolphin Court, Palm Beach
The award-winning Patio House designed by ME Architects takes its inspiration from the modest beach shacks built as holiday homes on the Gold Coast beachfront during the 1950s and 60s. The main living area opens out from two sides, allowing outdoors in and indoors out.
THE STATION
When: 10am – 3pm
Where: 45 Nerang Street, Southport
The Gold Coast’s original ambulance station, built in 1922 near Town Hall and Southport Courthouse, serviced the region for more than 50 years. It is now home to about 30 businesses with meetings rooms, kitchens, outdoor and balcony entertainment space, parking for 11 cars and coffee shop.
GOLD COAST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
When: 10am – 3pm
Where: 1 Hospital Boulevard, Southport
The multiple design award-winning Gold Coast University Hospital, designed by PDT, STH and Hassell, is built to world-class standards to reduce the number of patients travelling further afield for treatment. Located near Griffith University and a new private hospital in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, the hospital ranges over seven buildings.
Images: Gold Coast Open House
