If you’re not already familiar with the annual event Sydney Open, which returns this year November 4-5th, you’re late to the party. Very late. For 13 years Sydney Living Museums has presented the two-day event celebrating impressive and iconic feats of architecture spanning from present day to all the way back to previous centuries.
This year the festival returns to again unlock to the doors to more than 60 of Sydney’s most historic and architecturally inspiring buildings and spaces. Many of which are not usually accessible to the public.
In addition to the return of some of the most favoured sites, there are a handful of new additions such as Carriageworks, St James Road Banco Court, King Street Court Complex, Grimshaw 333 George Street, and DKO Architecture Studio/the old Redfern Post Office.
To round out the experience there are a series of talks not to be missed. On Sunday, there will be a drop in talk at Carriageworks with Tim Greer, director of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects who were charged with the adaptive reuse of the space in 2006; and Diane Jones, executive director at PTW and Adjunct Professor FBE UNSW, will be hosting a talk on the history and architecture of the courts at the King Street Court Complex.
At 50 Martin Place, Felicity Fenner from UNSW Art & Design, will be talking about the Macquarie Group Art Collection based around the theme of The Land and its Psyche, now in its 30th year; and throughout the day there will be a tours of the Sydney Observatory, led by MAAS educator staff, including areas not habitually open to the public.
But these are just highlights so check the schedule to make sure you fit it all in.
Sydney Open
sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/sydneyopen
cover image: USyd Business Building
