Open House Ballarat reveals program sneak peek
Posted Mon 25th Sep 2017 | efront
Open House Ballarat reveals program sneak peek
Start planning your weekend away on the 28th and 29th October
Plans are well under way for the Open House Ballarat program to be revealed on Wednesday 4th October ahead of the inaugural regional Weekend on the 28th and 29th October.
Presented by Open House Melbourne in collaboration with the City of Ballarat and Visit Ballarat, the free two-day event will see 21 spaces open for viewing, including private contemporary houses, architecturally significant commercial and civic buildings, and landscapes. In addition, a program of special events from film screenings to activities for kids will make for a Weekend not to be missed.
Ahead of the full program launch of 21 buildings that represent Ballarat’s impressive contemporary and heritage architecture, Open House announces three highlights: Two Halves House by Moloney Architects, Ballarat’s Regional Integrated Cancer Centre by Billard Leece Partnerships, and The Loreto Chapel by William Tappin
Two Halves House, a private home design by Moloney Architects, was completed in 2017. Taking the ubiquitous pitched roof country house form and splitting in half – the Two Halves House sets up a close relationship with its bush setting. The upper pavilion houses a cellular arrangement of bedrooms and bathrooms and forms the more private part of the building. The lower pavilion is the more public side of the house with a large open living space with access to views on the south.
Ballarat’s Regional Integrated Cancer Centre by Billard Leece Partnership for the Department of Health/Ballarat Health Service supports a multidisciplinary collaborative approach to patient care. The centre provides the latest technology for cancer treatment supported by a radiotherapy facility, a Medical Oncology Unit, a satellite pharmacy ensuring immediate access to medication and treatments, and a multidisciplinary consultation suite, supporting the concept of a ‘one stop shop’ for patients and their families. The interiors were purposely designed to be warm and uplifting. Radiation bunkers were also designed to be less imposing, with a floral ceiling pattern that can be lit up in a variety of ways to calm patients during treatment.
The Loreto Chapel on the Loreto College grounds is a convent chapel of architectural significance designed and built in 1898 by William Tappin. It is one of the largest and most elaborate convent churches in Victoria. The convent chapel represents a notable application of the use of decorative paintwork and stencilling, tessellated tile work (replaced by parquetry in 1930), and stained glass.
Planning your Ballarat Weekend:
The Open House Weekend is a chance to explore some of Ballarat’s most significant buildings, both contemporary and heritage. The full program will be announced on openhouseballarat.org on Wednesday 4th October.
Start planning your Weekend now as Ballarat’s accommodation can book out quickly. Visit Ballarat is offering a selection of special hotel deals for the Open House Ballarat Weekend with Craig’s Royal Hotel, Twelve Errard and The Provincial to name a few.
Visit hello.visitballarat.com.au/ballarat-season-of-the-arts-stay for more details.
Out of the 21 buildings open on the Weekend, 16 are open access, self-guided or will operate guided tours at specific times. There is no need to book for these buildings; however, if the building is busy you may need to wait.
Five buildings have pre-booked tours due to their limited capacity and for security reasons, and will require a small booking fee to reserve a place. Bookings open on Thursday 5th October from 8.30am on openhouseballart.org until booked out.
There will also be six special events happening across the Weekend.
Open House Ballarat coincides with the 2017 Season of the Arts campaign.
