Melbourne School of Design will officially open its doors to the public on Friday 12 December at 2pm.

The Faculty will host an open house style event with opportunities to explore the building, view MSD student work and enjoy the space activated by music and performance.

There will be an opportunity to hear the architects, John Wardle and Nader Tehrani, speak about the design process and the stages of creating this innovative learning environment.

Join us for the opening celebrations from 2pm - 8pm. Keep an eye on twitter @msdsocial for updates next week.

Image by Peter Bennetts

Our new building has been awarded a 6 Star Green Star Design - Education Design v1 Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, scoring 83 points.

This is the first 6 star green building at the University of Melbourne and one of only 12 buildings in Australia to receive a 6 Star Green Star Education Design - v1 rating.

In the latest edition of Atrium, Dr. Dominique Hes writes about the sustainable features that went towards achieving this rating, as well as ongoing research to analyse how the building's environmental performance works in practice. The latest edition will be available online here from Friday 12 December.

Be sure to visit Melbourne School of Design's end of year exhibition, MSDx, currently open in the Dulux Gallery.

Featuring the best student work from MSD thesis and studios, the exhibition presents an insight into the potential of our future built environment professionals.

As we embark on an exciting new journey in the new Melbourne School of Design building, we look forward to providing enhanced opportunities for our students through the Bachelor of Environments and Melbourne School of Design.

MSDx is open until 5pm on Monday 22 Decemeber.

Image by John Gollings

Professor Tom Kvan,
Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.

It is probably not a surprise that I respond, when asked to nominate my favourite building or urban space, by talking about the Brian Lewis atrium in our new MSD building. This volume is a hard working urban space. Developed on the framework of urban rooms with which we have approached campus planning at the University since the 1970s, the atrium is one of several such rooms in the building. What were previously roads and parking lots have been translated to the north east and south of the building into rooms for use by our campus community. From enervating asphalt we have created engaging places to linger.

The atrium, however, is distinct. An internal ‘outdoor’ room, it is a place that invites collaboration and discovery. Surrounded by work places on the levels that overlook the space, a volumetric community is created.  The long table is a place that new friends are made and connections enjoyed. The space can be enjoyed visually but also through the quality of the acoustics.  Whether you are passing through or lingering for a conversation, it is wonderful urban space and a great room in the building.

As what has been an exhilarating and eventful year draws to a close at ABP, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Faculty.

We wish you and your loved ones all the very best for the festive season and look forward to seeing you in the new Melbourne School of Design building throughout December and in the New Year.

As you all know the Melbourne design community never rests so here are a few events to keep you going over the Christmas and New Year.

The Design Files Open House 2014
12 Smith Street, Collingwood
To 7 December 2014

This year, for the first time, The Design Files are creating their own home from scratch in a 400 square metre warehouse in Collingwood.

The event represents ‘the ultimate Australian home’ – a bustling, colourful space furnished with locally designed furniture, homewares and lighting, artwork by talented Australian artists, books by local authors and much more. Everything can be purchased on the spot.

Open until Sunday 7 December at 5pm so get down this weekend

MPavilion
Queen Victoria Gardens, Southbank
To 1 February 2015

The structure, designed by Sean Godsell, provides a unique meeting place for the architecture and design community and a space for discussion, exploration and experimentation through a series of talks, workshops, performances and installations until 1 February 2015.

MPavilion was initiated by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation with support from City of Melbourne and the Victorian State Government.

A full program of events is available here.

The Big Design Market
Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
5 - 7 December 2014 

The Big Design Market is the biggest market of its kind in Australia, bringing together the best of independent Australian and international design. There are a number of creative design workshops to be enjoyed over the weekend.