Good design case studies inspire at Melbourne Open House

Celebrating its fourth year, Melbourne Open House provided the public with a free and rare opportunity to explore some of Melbourne’s cherished buildings and landmarks. The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) co-hosted the popular Melbourne Open House Speaker Series with an evening of informative and stimulating discussion about Melbourne’s built environment.

The Speaker Series provides architects with the opportunity to discuss the design process that has led to the built form we experience today. It also gives the public a valuable insight into the design process and a greater ability to critique buildings and the city within an architectural context.

Held in the iconic Capitol Theatre in Melbourne, DPCD presented ‘Good Design Case Studies’, which provided attendees with the chance to hear from some of our greatest architects and designers about their ideas and inspirations. The ‘Good Design Case Studies’ are examples of residential developments that illustrate quality design solutions in established areas. DPCD’s Urban Design Unit, with Heritage Victoria and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, identified 12 case studies as examples of promoting good building design of inner-city residential regeneration.

The focus is on buildings addressing their context, rather than award- winning architecture. This event proved hugely successful attracting a crowd of 577 residents, visitors, design buffs, architecture fans – absolutely anyone who loves Melbourne!

Melbourne Open House’s Associate Director Tim Leslie introduced the session, which was moderated by Larry Parsons, Acting Director of DPCD’s Urban Design Unit. We acknowledge the expert participation of Kerstin Thompson (Kerstin Thompson Architects), Clare McAllister and Karen Alcock (MA Architects formerly Neometro), George Metaxas (Metaxas Architects), Karl Fender (Fender Katsalidis Architects), Eli Giannini (McGauran Giannini Soon Architects), Luke Middleton (EME Design) and Robert Stent (Hayball Achitects).

You can view the Good Design Case Studies at: www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/urbandesign/ gooddesign.

Further case studies will continue to be added, including case studies in regional Victoria. Melbourne Open House is an initiative of the Committee for Melbourne and was part of the 2011 State of Design Festival, in July. www. moh.org.au www.openhouseworldwide.org