Open House Melbourne 2018

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As Open House Melbourne 2018 draws ever closer, a number of architectural practices will be throwing open the doors to their offices, allowing the public a glimpse at their working environments and providing them with a better understanding of the work architects do.

For the 2018 program the following architects are opening up their offices:

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/archier-studio-hardwick-building">Archier Studio</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/architects-warehouse">Idle Architecture Studio</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/building-no2">Wolveridge Architects</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/cox-architecture-studio">COX Architecture</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/fieldwork-studio">Fieldwork</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/phooey-architects-carpet-couch-and-office">PHOOEY Architects</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/orica-house">Bates Smart</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.openhousemelbourne.org/melbourne/buildings/techne-architecture-interior-design-office">Technē</a></li>
	<li>K2LD</li>
</ul>
But the focus for today's piece will be K2LD’s newly refurbished office space over three levels at <a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=49+Exhibition+Street,+Melbourne&amp;entry=gmail&amp;source=g">49 Exhibition Street, Melbourne</a>.

K2LD is an Architectural and Interior Design studio that has a wide range of expertise across a diverse portfolio of project types such as individual houses and community precincts, through to multi-unit developments, educational projects and large-scale commercial projects. K2LD believes that no built outcome is identical and their key focus is on the design journey and the establishment of ongoing client relationships.

In late 2017, K2LD moved from its humble office into a new larger studio space. The new studio not only caters for the practice’s growing team but is a showcase and exemplar of the work of K2LD Architects and Interiors.

The new studio also sees some of K2LD’s closest business partners and companies come together and share the space, bringing together a melting pot of creativity, skills, and ideas.

The design of the office focused on the theme of integration, collaboration, functionality and intimate creativity, coupled with an aesthetic vision around the use of strong dark lines against a neutral palette and splashes of greenery.

This has resulted in a large hub with central kitchen-and-dining space, where staff gather at lunch or after work for various events and celebrations.

Additionally, concepts of fluidity, seamlessness and personalisation are optimised in this new space inspired by the works of Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier.

Alongside the hub are a variety of different sized meeting rooms, designed to promote engaging design critiques and client meetings of varying sizes.

The expansive boardroom dismisses notions of sterility in such formal environments and is softened via its materiality in the form of boomerang lights, plush carpeting, sheer linen drapes and timber ceilings.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/k2ld2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="K2LD's newly refurbihsed space"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/k2ld2.jpg?itok=X0GmBQtI" title="K2LD's newly refurbihsed space" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>K2LD's newly refurbished space. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
As designers, we have the ability to greatly influence how a person experiences and moves through space, and as such we deliberately set the tone of the boardroom to debunk the traditional corporate ambience that would be expected,says

- Tisha Lee, K2LD Director
</blockquote>

The neutral background and supportive materiality, continues through the entirety of the office, allowing for different stories to be created while bespoke furnishing and objects complement the space. 

The transparent and inclusive environment of the office allows for activity-based working through formal and informal break-out areas, large open-plan zones and a central kitchen and dining hub which acts as the Studio’s focal point, much like a kitchen in the heart of the home.

A unique gallery space on level one also allows for gatherings and talks, and offers an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work, promoting multiple layers of creativity within the organisation.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/k2ld1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="K2LD's office will open its doors Saturday as part of OHM 2018. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="835" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/k2ld1.jpg?itok=DCJPYAIu" title="K2LD's office will open its doors Saturday as part of OHM 2018. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>K2LD's office will open its doors Saturday as part of OHM 2018. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><h2>Open House Melbourne 2018 Program:</h2>

Photography Restricted: Yes

Open: Sat 10am - 4pm

What's Open: Level 2 hub, office space and board room. Level 1 meeting rooms and gallery space

Tour Details: Tours at 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm, 3pm, 3:30pm, running for 20minutes, in groups of 10

Special Programming: Hands on activity for kids including colouring and take home materials.

Building Type: Workplace

Access: Pram accessible, Fully accessible

Tour Type: Guided, queue
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Laurence Dragomir

Open House Melbourne 2018: K2LD's 49 Exhibition Street offices

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The next instalment in the Collectivity Talks series presented by Communications Collective, in partnership with Open House Melbourne will focus on the theme of <a href="https://tickets.myguestlist.com.au/v25b0e353396b8d/collectivity-talks-designing-for-life-/evs5b0e35339b86c/">Designing for Life</a>.

A group of industry experts comprising architects and developers will form part of a <a href="https://tickets.myguestlist.com.au/v25b0e353396b8d/collectivity-talks-designing-for-life-/evs5b0e35339b86c/">panel discussion</a> taking place on Wednesday 18 July to discuss good apartment design.

As Melbourne's population balloons and the supply of new housing attempts to cater to demand, recent measures such as the introduction of <a href="https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/victoria-releases-updated-apartment-design-guidelines" target="_blank"> Better Apartments Design Standards</a> (BADS) in Victoria, and density controls within the Capital City Zone have attempted to improve the livability of our city and the quality of our built environment.

Further efforts by the <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/amendmentc308">City of Melbourne</a> and the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/victorian-budget-fishermans-bend-to-get-5-million-to-complete-planning-work">State Government</a> are being discussed to raise the design standard of the external appearance of buildings, the quality of finishes and to ensure they contribute positively to the streetscapes.

So what makes a well-designed apartment? And how do we create apartments that will stand the test of time and nurture those who live within them?

The panel will discuss how architects and developers are responding to BADS and the effect they have had on the standard of design across the state.

Good design can take on many forms and small apartments aren't necessarily poor apartments if they are well designed.

In recent times there has also been debate over the nature of more performance-based design standards in lieu of prescriptive, as a number of existing apartments which are considered to be good designs would fail the BADS criteria.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/insat_coll.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Designing for Life panel. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="347" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/insat_coll.jpg?itok=j1cUYl4W" title="The Designing for Life panel. " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Designing for Life panel.</figcaption></figure>The discussion panel will include pioneers of medium-density projects, Karen Alcock, Principal of MAArchitects, and Kerstin Thompson, Principal of Kerstin Thompson Architects, who will share their views on how to create projects with a sense of place, integrity, and solidity.

Kyle Reeve, Development Manager of ICON Developments, and Mike McCormack, Director of Milieu, will discuss how developers are taking an intelligent approach to respond to the changing needs of buyers.

Urban.com.au has previously highlighted projects from the panel members such as <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/breese-street-204-206-albion-street-brunswick">Breese Street by Milieu</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/antipodean-style-another-design-sensitive-apartment-project-for-brunswick-east">Little Miller Street by KTA (with Breathe Architecture)</a>, and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/on-site-with-wulff-projects-part-02-122-roseneath-street-clifton-hill">122 Roseneath Street by ICON Developments</a> (in partnership with Wulff Projects and Assemble Projects).

The session, which will be hosted at the Centre for Contemporary Photography, will be moderated by Genevieve Brannigan, Director of Communications Collective.

<h2>Where:</h2>

Centre for Contemporary Photography

404 George St

Fitzroy, VIC 3065 Australia

<h2>When:</h2>

6-9pm Wednesday

18 July 2018

Tickets to Designing for Life can be purchased <a href="https://tickets.myguestlist.com.au/v25b0e353396b8d/collectivity-talks-designing-for-life-/evs5b0e35339b86c/">here</a>.
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Open House Melbourne 2018

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