Open House Hobart is returning for the eighth time in mid-November, opening up Hobart’s architectural gems to the public through a mix of face-to-face and virtual events.
Among the buildings open over the weekend beginning Saturday 14 November will be Signalman’s Quarters in Battery Point, a home designed in 2016 by 1+2 Architecture around a stone cottage constructed in 1853 to house the signalman of Mulgrave Battery; Dock on the Bay, a mid-century building in Berridale designed by influential Tasmanian architect Ray Heffernan; and Mariners Cottages – believed to be the oldest remaining buildings on the site of the ship building yards in Napoleon Street in Battery Point.
The Hobart Fire Brigade’s 1911 Head Station, still operational, but also home to the Tasmanian Fire Museum will also be open for tours as will the Supreme Court of Tasmania, by Peter Partridge.
Another highlight of the program is “one of the great modern houses of Australia”, the 1978-built Dorney House at Fort Nelson, designed by Esmond Dorney. The modernist house will be open for virtual tours, and on the Saturday night it will host Runaway Belles with Emily Sanzaro, Brian Ritchie and Esmond Dorney, part of the Sheltering music series which “invites you to experience a synchronicity of sound, music and design.” Another Sheltering music event will be held at Dock on the Bay on the Sunday.
Dorney House at Fort Nelson, designed by Esmond Dorney.
Image: Ray Joyce
Then there’s a number of walking tours and a “Sunday drive” taking in buildings outside of Hobart, including Bozen’s Cottage by Taylor and Hinds Architects in historical Oatlands.
Numbers will be limited for building tours, with pre-booking essential.
“We have been working closely with the City of Hobart to provide a COVID-19-safe event that adheres to the government’s guidelines, but one which will allow Tasmanians to experience and learn about the value of architecture and our built environment,” said Open House Hobart producer, Jennifer Nichols, who is also executive director of the Australian Institute of Architects Tasmanian chapter, which organizes and runs Open House Hobart.
“We want to keep our community safe, and for those who don’t feel comfortable to be there in person, we will be running a number of virtual tours across the weekend, along with events either side of this. This will also allow people from across the world the opportunity to tune in a see a little bit of Hobart and its surrounds.”
After the Open House weekend will be a number of livestreamed speaker events. On Tuesday 17 November architect Mat Hinds, of Taylor and Hinds Architects, will discuss Bozen’s Cottage with owners Alison and Doug Bridge, and on Wednesday Rodney Eggleston of March Studio will discuss Kingborough Community Hub, and Neil Bourne of Denton Corker Marshall will present Bridge of Remembrance.
See the full program here.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
