Design festival offers a peek inside top Canberra homes

You usually have to wait for a property to hit the market before taking a peek inside, but Design Canberra will see homeowners open their doors as part of its Living Rooms program.

Design Canberra artistic director Rachael Coghlan said architecture has always been one of the most popular aspects of the festival and the Living Rooms series was created to celebrate the collaboration between architecture, interior design and craft.

Architects will be available to speak with visitors, while each home’s living room will feature a pop-up exhibition where emerging artists will showcase and sell their creations.

“I think this is very much going to appeal to a broad cross section of Canberra,” Ms Coghlan said.

“Not only people who love architecture, but those who love the quality of design in their own backyard.”

The event will take place each Sunday during the four-week festival. Four inner north properties will be showcased on October 30 and again on November 13. The inner south houses will open on November 6 and 20.

A range of architectural styles will be showcased in both districts.

Each home is open for 90 minutes and the schedule is available at Design Canberra’s website.

Lee and Bente Phillips will open their renovated 1930s property in Braddon on Sunday.

The California bungalow-style home has been extended and renovated over the years by Arquitectura principal Pedro Geleris.

It received a number of Australian Institute of Architects awards and has featured in Australian House & Garden.

A 1970s extension was replaced with a light-filled living area and a contemporary pavilion was built at the rear of the property.

Mr Geleris said a mix of complementary materials were used to tie the two distinct architectural styles together.

“This project is a good example of how a contemporary structure can sit comfortably next to an older building without detracting from the latter’s heritage character,” Mr Geleris said.

For the Design Canberra event, the pavilion will house the featured living room where local artisans will be selling jewellery.

Ms Phillips said she is looking forward to visiting other houses in the line-up, which include contemporary, mid-century modern and ecologically sustainable properties.

See designcanberrafestival.com.au for the full program.