Noosa’s distinctive architecture, design, heritage, and art will an exciting part of the 2023 Sunshine Coast Open House program this month.
Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young launched the region’s program, the sixth edition of a world-wide initiative being presented in more than 50 cities to highlight the value and importance of good design.
Noosa deputy mayor Frank Wilkie said the shire was proud to be a part of the program, with 23 extraordinary buildings and homes open to the public and more than 20 inspirational tours, talks and art classes on the calendar.
As with the Sunshine Coast, the evolution of Noosa’s built form started with the Indigenous inhabitants, followed by the timber getters, fisherfolk and early subsistence farmers who used natural materials to build simple structures.
In the early 1980s, the Noosa council wanted to shape development in a way that preserved and enhanced the natural environment to create a low-key village feel.
In 1986 the Noosa Council’s Design Manual focused on the visual appeal of the street environment and its interface with private development.
This was the first step in defining the Noosa look and feel, Cr Wilkie said.
That year also saw the completion of the Cooroy streetscape which became a model for designing in consultation with the community
“Over subsequent years, a distinctive style emerged in the architecture, the streetscape and the open spaces.
“Innovative architects including Lindsay and Kerry Clare, John Mainwaring and the late Gabriel Poole were instrumental, creating a distinctive brand of architecture that embraced the sub-tropical climate and use of lightweight materials.
“This aesthetic has continued to be promoted in recent years with many architects, environmental planners, landscape architects and environmental engineers that are committed to the preservation of the Noosa look and feel and our unique identity.
“Key design principles are still enshrined in Noosa through the Noosa Planning scheme.
“Noosa Council also maintains the non-statutory Noosa Design Principles as an expression of its design philosophy, including working with nature and the absence of city symbols.’’
Cr Wilkie paid particular tribute to Peter Bycroft, John Mainwairing, Lindy Atkin and Noel Robinson, who have been advocating in recent years for Noosa Council to update its Noosa Design Principles to ensure an ongoing commitment to good design in Noosa.
Like the excellent Sunshine Coast Design Principles and Yellow book, which showcases the high-quality, contemporary architecture across the region, an updated version of the Noosa Design principles expands on key themes such as respecting the character of the area, designing for living with regard to natural lighting, views and cross-ventilation, preparing for climate change plus preserving public spaces for nature and people.
Recent award-winning projects embracing these principles include the Little Cove Boardwalk and Cooroy Hinterland Playground, which won the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Award for Best Play space this year in Queensland.
“Council continues to strive for high design standards in its public works,’’ Cr Wilkie said.
This year, Noosa Council is supporting a symposium at the J, challenging the myth that there’s no heritage in Noosa or the Sunshine Coast.
There is a guided tour of the Cooroy Lower Mill precinct including the library, boilerhouse, kilns and hinterland playground hosted by landscape architect Shaun Walsh.
At Cooran, there is to be a urban sketching workshop with architect Peter Richards.
A walking tour at Noosa Heads, focusing on the evolution of Noosa’s distinctive architecture with the esteemed John Mainwaring, will be followed by a lunch.
Cr Wilkie said Noosa Council was very supportive of the Sunshine Coast Open House program and ready to play its part to help promote design excellence across the region.
OPEN HOUSE IN NOOSA
Hosted by the Sunshine Coast chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, the Open House program will see a selection of houses and buildings open on the weekend of October 21-22.
However, there will also be a number of events in the lead-up: Tim Ross in the House on October 6; an architecture walking tour and lunch in Noosa with John Mainwaring on Saturday, 8 October; a Cooroy Precinct Tour with architect Shaun Walsh on Saturday, 21 October; and Urban Sketching with Peter Richards at Cooran on Sunday, 22 October.
Events are ticketed or may require booking.
Explore the Sunshine Coast list of events and buildings at SunshineCoastOpenHouse.com.au
