Jeff Robinson's Weekend favourites
This year the Open House Melbourne community was saddened by the passing of sustainability expert and engineer, Jeff Robinson.
Jeff Robinson was Open House Melbourne’s most ardent supporter and his enthusiasm for all things Open House was infectious. As a member of the 2024 OHM Building Council, Jeff’s knowledge was crucial in ensuring the quality, depth, and relevance of our program. Due to his commitment many remarkable projects feature on this July’s Weekend program.
Jeff had a passion for sustainability, heritage and all things Open House Melbourne. The following captures many of Jeff’s favourites on this year’s program.
Jeff Robinson loved a tour and planned to gain insight into the way Melbourne’s 1956 Olympics shaped the city’s sports precinct on the ARBV’s Architecture of Olympic Boulevard tour.
As a former member of the Heritage Council of Victoria and a member of the Working Heritage Committee of Management, Jeff would recommend visiting Jack’s Magazine, hearing about the Prahran Arcade Façade Conservation and enjoying the Farm Viganò: From Plan to Place tour – a small selection of the heritage highlights on this year’s program.
Jeff had a hand in many university shaping projects, from the University of Melbourne’s Glyn Davis Building (Melbourne School of Design) and its New Student Precinct to projects at Monash University’s Clayton Campus. His passion for good design would have taken him to Monash University’s Caulfield Campus on this year’s program.
We know Jeff loved Open House Melbourne, but his first love was sustainability. Jeff’s list of sustainability highlights would include Nightingale Preston, Re/discover Royal Park, Today’s new zero waste office fit-out, Zero Carbon Development in the City of Yarra and the adaptive reuse of 500 Bourke Street.
Vale Jeff Robinson
Over many years, Jeff built deep connections with the Open House Melbourne community. We dearly miss his energy and enthusiasm, his big smile and generous personality, and that oh so wonderful accent!
This year, Open House Melbourne is keeping a front row seat in our hearts for Jeff. We will be thinking of him every time the first question gets asked. He will be with us in spirit on the Weekend and at every one of our signature events – Designing with Country, This is Public, Modern Melbourne and the Heritage Address.
Open House Melbourne is richer for Jeff’s participation and contribution. His passionate advocacy for sustainability, heritage, good design and our programming was joyful and unwavering. Open House Melbourne miss him dearly and remember him fondly – may his passion, energy and enthusiasm live on in our programming.
