Tasmania's premier architecture event welcomed thousands of visitors over the weekend as Open House Hobart opened its doors for the thirteenth consecutive year. The two-day celebration on November 8 and 9 featured more than 113 buildings, tours, and events across Hobart and surrounding areas, offering unprecedented public access to some of the city's most significant architectural spaces.
The free event provided visitors with unique opportunities to explore iconic locations typically closed to the public, including the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Hobart Town Hall's Underground Concourse, and St. David's Cathedral. Event organizers emphasized the program's mission to help people "see how others live, work and play; look up, look inside, have a sticky-beak, and see the city from a different angle."
Among the most popular attractions were several historic sites that drew substantial crowds throughout the weekend. The historic Beaumaris Zoo site on Hobart Domain proved to be a major draw for visitors interested in the city's heritage. Hadley's Orient Hotel and the State Library and Archives of Tasmania also attracted significant numbers of architecture enthusiasts eager to explore these significant civic and cultural spaces.
The program successfully balanced historical preservation with contemporary design by featuring modern architectural spaces alongside traditional buildings. The University of Tasmania's The Forest represented one of the standout modern spaces included in this year's program, showcasing how contemporary architecture continues to shape the Tasmanian landscape.
Several prominent architecture firms participated by opening their professional practices to public scrutiny, providing rare insights into the design process behind Tasmania's built environment. Cumulus Studio, Partners Hill, and XSquared Architects all welcomed visitors into their studios, offering behind-the-scenes glimpses of how architectural projects develop from concept to completion.
Beyond building tours, the comprehensive program included a diverse series of events, talks, and exhibitions designed to deepen public understanding of architectural principles and local building heritage. These educational components helped contextualize the physical spaces within broader discussions about urban planning, historical preservation, and contemporary design challenges.
Open House Hobart operates as part of a global architectural movement that originated in London in 1992 and has since expanded to more than 30 cities worldwide. This international network demonstrates the universal appeal of making architecture accessible to general audiences while fostering greater appreciation for the built environment that shapes daily life in communities around the world.
