Open House Docklands guide

Four Docklands locations will be opening up over the weekend of July 28 - 29 for Open House 2018.

The festival features a series of talks, events, tours, screenings, performances and more, all celebrating architecture and history.

Port of Melbourne Boat Tours

Saturday July 28, 40-minute tours from 10am

The tour will start in Victoria Harbour and move west to the Swanston and Appleton.

Around 36 per cent of Australia’s trade moves through Melbourne and around 3000 ships which visit each year.

www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/port-of-melbourne-boat-tours

Mission to Seafarers Victoria

Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 4pm, self-guided

The Spanish mission/arts and crafts-style building complex was designed by Walter Butler. It was constructed in 1917, with the addition of the Norla Dome completed in 1919. The funds to build the complex came from fundraising by the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild (established in 1906) and a government grant. The building is significant for operating with its original purpose as a mission to the welfare of seafarers for 100 years. The historical mission complex is architecturally significant as being a fine urban example of the arts and crafts-style in Melbourne.

www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/mission-to-seafarers-victoria

Medibank Place

Saturday, 30-minute tours from 10am

Tour this award-winning building, designed in partnership with the architects at Hassell – who created a space that represented Medibank first, before looking at how to enable greater collaboration, engagement and productivity.

The vibrant headquarters is an oasis – with its sweeping white curves and brightly coloured accents set amidst the drab greys of busy urban life.

www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/medibank-place

Banksia

Saturday, 25-minute tours from 10am

Banksia continues the award-winning collaboration between MAB and celebrated Melbourne architects McBride Charles Ryan (MCR).

Banksia’s circular floorplan allows for each apartment to view water, city or park, while nautical-inspired designs have brought the facade to life. Circles and organic shapes can be found throughout the building.

MCR’s signature use of colour is on display here with purple walls, lime-green lounge, multi-coloured tiles, and magenta kitchen. Marking the entrance to Bankisa is Robert Bridgewater’s art installation, Beaded Samphire.

The specially curated piece continues the Australian flora theme, with pillars modelled on a local indigenous plant know as Beaded Samphire or Beaded Glasswort, which can be found along the Moonee Ponds Creek.

www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/banksia