A highlight of the calendar, the Open House Melbourne 2019 Weekend returns on the 27 and 28 July. For two full days, the much-awaited event opens sites across Melbourne exploring crucial city issues through an all-inclusive and open access lens.

Denton Corker Marshall. Photography by Shannon McGrath.

Honouring the idea that strong cities empower communities, Open House Melbourne never fails to inspire and astound visitors every year. Carrying on the tradition from past years, an exhilarating selection of notable commercial and civic buildings, private homes, infrastructure and landscape projects is on the itinerary for the public to enjoy. This event takes you on a journey of Melbourne’s rich history and its progressive, future-forward and contemporary ideas in place-making.

The Capitol. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

This year, a total of 200 buildings will take part and amongst these, the Weekend program has 73 new sites to explore. The footprint map extends from the City of Melbourne to Williamstown, Spotswood, Newport and Altona with the new precinct partner, City of Hobson’s Bay.

An extensive list of programmed events has been prepared for the public to enjoy and engage themselves in what the city has to offer. This includes events such as the Westgate Tunnel tours, residential construction tours by emerging architects, Jane’s Walks’ suburban walking tours and hospitality tours featuring the finest of Melbourne’s culinary institutions. Catered to all ages, there will be over 35 events and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Ian Potter Southbank Centre by Trevor Mein.

A new keynote program, Urban Tactility, will join the July program this year. A site-specific public installation located in the courtyard of the Immigration Museum, this immersive event seeks to challenge participants on their preconceived ideas of how the cities are changing to improve the city’s accommodation for visual impairment.

Melbourne Quarter Sky Park. Photography courtesy of Lendlease.

A spectacular roster of building tours is in the 2019 program. Recently reopening its doors, the refurbishment of The Capitol by RMIT and Six Degrees Architects has transformed into a contemporary destination for culture, education and innovation. A spectacle for this year’s event, The Capitol is a treasured Melbourne landmark.

Projects such as The Ian Potter Southbank Centre, Melbourne Quarter + Sky Park, 122 Roseneath St and Denton Corker Marshall Studio joins the list of notable and innovative design projects of the city.

122 Roseneath St. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

Open House Melbourne is renowned for engaging and fostering the community’s appreciation for architecture and the built environment. This event celebrates the cultural diversity and evolving dialogue in the arts and creative industry throughout Melbourne and throughout Australia.

The full program of events, tours and installations will be announced later this month.

Take ownership of your city at Open House Melbourne on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 July.