The 2025 program for Open House Melbourne has been unveiled and it's huge
Nearly 200 buildings and places across Melbourne will be open to the public for the 26th and 27th of July - many for the very first time.
Some of the exciting firsts include the new Veloway on the West Gate Tunnel Project, the elephant habitat at Werribee Open Range Zoo and the Kennedy Nolan designed hotel Melbourne Place.
Alongside buildings and houses, the program also offers experiences including a First Nations kayak tour down the Yarra and a city-wide role-playing game set in the year 2050.
The theme for this year's weekend is 'Stories of the City', which executive director and chief curator, Dr Tania Davidge, said was chosen to emphasise that the city is more than just "bricks and mortar."
"Melbourne is about people and place," she said. "Every building, street and public place in our city has a unique story to uncover, and Open House Melbourne Weekend is your best time to explore the secret histories of our city hidden behind closed doors."
Open House Melbourne is the largest architecture and built environment festival in Oceania and is expected to attract over 65,000 people.
In accordance with this year's theme, the festival will invite attendees to share their unique Melbourne story.
"To celebrate this year's Open House Melbourne's Weekend theme, we invite all Melburnians to share their own stories by contributing to a special exhibition, held over the weekend, at the Bates Smart Gallery," said Davidge.
Homes of Melbourne
As part of the program, 13 private residences, as well as multi-residential, build-to-rent and social housing developments across the city will be open for the public to explore.
Some of the highlights include Naples St House, winner of theRobin Boyd award at the 2024 National Architecture Awards.
Designed by Edition Office, the brick house is a multi-generational home located in Box Hill that is designed around a central courtyard garden.
Built to accommodate three generations, the home allows the occupants space and privacy, while also creating a sense of connection through the thoughtful design.
Over in Hawthorn, attendees will have the opportunity to explore ECHO.1, Melbourne's first turnkey Passivhaus development.
Designed by C.Street and Neil Architecture, the development is a collection of eight brand new townhouses built with sustainable materials and designed for net-zero energy outcomes.
Another sustainable development featured on the program is 1 Heller St Brunswick,a six-star building and new public park on a former council nursery site.
A collaboration between Hansen's urban planning team and Six Degrees Architects, the project features 10 townhouses across three levels with a mix of native and indigenous planting surrounding a central grassed space.
Part of the Victorian Government's Big Housing Build is Bills Street Social - the largest social and affordable building program in the state's history.
Festival guests will be able to check out the ambitious development that will provide 206 modern and energy-efficient homes for Victorians facing difficulties securing affordable housing.
The project provides a 50/50 split of social and affordable homes, that are accessible with an environmentally sustainable design.
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