Get a special sneak peek at the iconic spaces of our city during Brisbane Open House
A wise man once said, “If you had one shot – one opportunity – to seize everything you ever wanted … would you capture it or just let it slip?” While Eminem may not have been talking explicitly about Brisbane Open House, his words can definitely be applied to the event. On the weekend of October 7–8, visitors are provided with the super-rare chance to gain access to some of our city’s most interesting, iconic and often totally private spaces. Whether you’re an architecture die-hard, a bit of a design nerd or just have a bit of a curious streak, this is one weekend you won’t want to miss.
If you’ve ever been cruising the streets of your town and seen a building that made you look twice, odds are it will be available for viewing during Brisbane Open House. Coming into its eighth year, the free community event will be profiling more than 90 unique spaces for your viewing pleasure – from award-winning architectural masterpieces to heritage sites and spaces, it’s all about uncovering the gems in our built environment. Returning for this year’s program are much-loved structures such as the Fort Lytton Historic Military Precinct, Port of Brisbane, Brisbane City Hall, Old Bishopsbourne, Queensland Herbarium, Masonic Memorial Centre and the Queensland State Archives, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
One of the best parts of Brisbane Open House is the fact that it’s free of charge, leading the weekend’s journey completely in the hands of the visitor. The BOH website easily allows you to construct your own bespoke itinerary for the weekend – a few of the buildings with more strict capacity regulations do require a pre-registration, but many of the awesome places on offer will be open for general access throughout the course of the event. As well as the option to make your whole experience self-paced and autonomous, there will also be guided walking tours, free concerts and meet-the-maker Made in Brisbane workshops happening on both the Saturday and Sunday.
Feeling inspired? You can create your own custom Brisbane Open House itinerary right here, and register for limited capacity events here.
Lead image credit: Cathy Schusler