Brisbane Open House 2016 will offer residents and visitors the rare opportunity to discover the hidden wealth of architecture, engineering and history in buildings and places around Brisbane.
Held annually in conjunction with World Architecture Day, selected buildings are opened for the public with guided and self-guided tours to encourage them to explore, re-examine and engage with Brisbane's built environment.
The inaugural Brisbane Open House was launched in 2010 with great success, attracting more than 12,500 visits and each year the event has continued to grow.
This year's event will take place on Saturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 October.
Here are a few our favourite buildings to check out in 2016:
Saturday
CUSTOMS HOUSE
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10.30am – 3pm
Where: 399 Queen Street, Brisbane
Walk through the grand Corinthian columns and marvel at the luxurious architecture of Customs House. The building was designed by Charles McLay (Colonial Architect’s Office), and restored by Riddel Architecture (now Conrad Gargett Riddel).
WOODS BAGOT STUDIO
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10am – 4pm
Where: Ground Floor, 102 Adelaide Street, Brisbane City
Woods Bagot relocated to their Brisbane studio in 2015 to the ground floor of 102 Adelaide Street, the former Reserve Bank of Australia building, overlooking the historically significant King George Square. The office was designed by Woods Bagot themselves.
ABC BRISBANE CENTRE
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10am – 2pm
Where: 114 Grey Street (Corner of Grey Street and Russell Street), South Brisbane
Take a guided tour and gain an insight into how the news is reported each day at the ABC Brisbane broadcast centre. The building was designed by Kirk and was built in 2011.
FARRELL STREET HOUSE
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10am – 1.30pm
Where: 18 Farrell Street, Ashgrove
Farrell Street House, nestled in the leafy suburb of Ashgrove, is a house for a family of five (parents and three teenage boys) designed by James Russell Architect.
SIR SAMUEL GRIFFITH CENTRE NATHAN CAMPUS, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10am – 4pm
Where: The Circuit, Nathan Campus, Griffith University
The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre was a significant project for Griffith's 40-year history as a leader in environmental science. The project was designed by Cox Rayner Architects and was built in 2013.
LEFT OVER SPACE HOUSE
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: Pre-booked guided tours only
Where: Paddington (address confirmed when booking secured)
The Left Over Space House, designed by Vallance Architects and Cox Rayner, demonstrates what can be achieved on the myriad of 'left-over' spaces in inner cities. Over 12 years, a three-metre wide caretaker's cottage has been recycled and linearly extended into a family home and office.
TORBRECK
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: Pre-booked guided tours only
Where: 182 Dornoch Terrace, Highgate Hill
In 2014 Torbreck was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects (Queensland Chapter) Enduring Architecture Award. The building was designed by Aubrey H Job & RP Froud and was built between 1959 and 1961.
Sunday
BVN STUDIO
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10am – 4pm
Where: Level 4, 12 Creek Street, Brisbane
For BVN, their strategy is for the physical workplace project to represent their place, ideas and values. Rather than 'fabricated representation', BVN’s methods and outputs are exposed to all, and in so doing are a genuine demonstration of the way they act, and what they do.
WILSON ARCHITECTS
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10am – 3pm
Where: 564 Boundary Street, Spring Hill
Visit Wilson Architect’s award winning studio in Spring Hill, which was refurbished by the architects themselves in 2010.
WHITTY BUILDING
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: 10am – 3pm
Where: Mater, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane (access via stairs and driveway off Annerley Road)
The Whitty Building is a building of significant historical value as it was the original Mater Public Hospital opened in 1911. It was designed by Hall & Dods, and was refurbished by Conrad Gargett.
ORAL HEALTH CENTRE
Image: University of Queensland
When: 10am – 3pm
Where: 288 Herston Road, Herston
The University of Queensland Oral Health Centre is the nation’s largest and most advanced tertiary dental facility. The recently built $134 million facility explores new boundaries in teaching, research and clinical practice. It was designed by Cox Rayner and Hames Sharley.
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND CENTRE FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH (UQCCR)
Image: Christopher Frederick Jones
When: 10am – 3pm
Where: Building 71 / 918, Royal Brisbane Hospital Precinct, Herston
At the UQ Centre for Clinical Research the world-renowned biomedical researchers and clinicians use new approaches and research technologies to improve health and wellbeing. The building was designed by Daryl Jackson.
BAYSIDE FIRE STATION
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: Pre-booked guided tours only
Where: Wynnum (address confirmed when booking secured)
This building housed the Wynnum Fire Station service from 1938 until 2004. Four similar fire stations designed by Atkinson and Conrad, were also built in Yeronga, Coorparoo, Nundah and Hamilton around the same time. The building was redeveloped by Owen Architecture.
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (TRI)
Image: Brisbane Open House
When: Pre-booked guided tours (9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm, 1:45pm, 3pm, 4:15pm) and general access (9am to 5pm)
Where: 37 Kent Street, Wooloongabba
The Translational Research Institute (TRI) Australia, designed by Wilson Architects and Donovan Hill, is developing a new generation of scientists who can work with industry to transform Australia's international competitiveness in medical research.
THE HIGHGATE
Image: Brisbane Development
When: Pre-booked guided tours
Where: 178 Dornoch Terrace, Highgate Hill
The Highgate, designed by Cottee Parker, is set to become Brisbane's next landmark residential building offering residents unparalleled views and amenity located adjacent to Southbank and just two kilometres from the CBD.
