RMIT’s The Capitol, Design Hub Gallery and Design Archives open to all during Open House Melbourne July Weekend program.
Headlined by access to The Capitol, including entire floors of the building previously closed to the public, RMIT’s significant cultural spaces will be open to the public for the Open House Melbourne Weekend.
The inspiring buildings and cultural resources demonstrate some of Melbourne’s most progressive historical, contemporary and future-facing ideas in place-making.
Along with the opportunity to experience the breathtaking ceiling of The Capitol, recently relaunched following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment by RMIT and Six Degrees Architects, visitors will also be able to explore the upstairs balconies, now called the Salon and Lounge.
These elevated areas offer views down to the elaborate foyer and reveal their own hidden gems: an array of display cabinets currently showcasing two exhibitions that highlight the beginning of The Capitol’s ongoing collaborations with RMIT students as well as the University’s other cultural spaces.
Formerly known as the Capitol Theatre, the ground-breaking building became one of Australia’s most critically acclaimed cinemas when it opened in 1924. Originally designed by celebrated architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin, the Chicago Gothic-style theatre is heralded as their greatest interior design work.
Time Traveller exhibit
Time Traveller is a collection of time-based explorations in and around The Capitol by RMIT Interior Design students responding to oral, written and visual accounts of the building’s history.
Curated by Jon Buckingham and Ann Carew and drawing from the RMIT Art Collection and RMIT Design Archives, Cabinets of Curiosities casts a spotlight on RMIT’s extraordinary cultural collections and reflects RMIT University’s history as an incubator and advocate of art and design in all its forms.
Cabinets of Curiosities curator Ann Carew from RMIT Design Archives suggests visiting this exhibition to get a taste of what the Design Archives has to offer.
“If you missed out on a ticket for a tour of the RMIT Design Archives during Open House Melbourne Weekend, you can still discover a sampling of our extraordinary cultural collections on display at The Capitol,” she said.
Design Hub Gallery
RMIT Design Hub Gallery will be launching its new exhibition Super Tight on Friday 26 July, with visitors welcome at the opening and throughout the entire weekend. Super Tight investigates the culture of spatial tightness emerging in Asian cities and its creative potential.
Ghita Loebenstein, Creative Producer, The Capitol encouraged visitors to add these RMIT buildings to their itinerary for the Open House Weekend.
“The Capitol relaunched very recently and is currently only open for events, so this is a great opportunity for people to visit this spectacular Melbourne icon if you haven’t yet had the chance.
“The Design Hub Gallery, Design Archives and The Capitol all encourage creativity, collaboration and innovation across our industries and RMIT. Open House Melbourne Weekend is an occasion for us to all come together in celebration of our combined contribution to what makes our city so special,” she said.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice President, College of Design and Social Context, Professor Paul Gough said RMIT had a strong reputation as a leader in enterprise, design and innovation.
“The Capitol, RMIT Design Archives and RMIT Design Hub Gallery form some of the University’s important cultural resources that inspire creativity and collaboration amongst our staff and students, Gough said.
“Each of us plays a role in this community and Open House Melbourne Weekend is an opportunity to come together with the broader public to celebrate RMIT’s significant contribution to the cultural fabric of our city.”
Opening times for RMIT spaces during Open House Melbourne Weekend:
- The Capitol: 113 Swanston St, Melbourne, Saturday 27 July, 10am–4pm
- RMIT Design Hub & Gallery: Building 100, Victoria St, Carlton, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July, 12pm-5pm, with the Super Tight launch Friday 26 July, 5pm–7pm
- RMIT Swanston Academic Building: Building 80, 445 Swanston St, Saturday 27 July 10am–3.45pm
- New Academic Street: 402 Swanston St, Melbourne, Saturday 27 July 10am–4pm
- RMIT Design Archives – currently sold out
