The Saturday morning program of fringe events will include a site visit to a modest Goldfields home by Melbourne firm Design Office where architect Mark Simpson will show delegates around and provide insight into the project.

GOLDFIELDS DWELLING

Goldfields Dwelling is a simple home located in the heart of Victoria’s Goldfields region. It was originally designed as a weekender for DesignOffice Director Mark Simpson but was sold to a friend and creative collaborator in 2022.

The 100sqm pavilion sits on an elevated site surrounded by native bushland. Conceived as a simple single volumetric form, the building is uniformly clad in warm grey asphalt shingles. This cladding provides a tonal and textural response to the vernacular roofing of corrugated metal sheets whilst giving scale to the building’s geometric sculptural form.

Large apertures and carvings are then made in the skin in response to internal arrangement, aspect and orientation. An open kitchen is adjacent to both the dining and living areas and is animated by the daylit apex of the pavilion. This also serves to provide daylight and ventilation to the bathroom behind.

The main living area to the west is conceived as a tiered timber landscape reflecting the natural topography of the site. A simple interior palette of concrete, white oak and ceramic tile provides a calm and simple backdrop for living.

DESIGN OFFICE

DesignOffice is an architecture and design studio creating human-centred spaces which are emotionally resonant and contribute to everyday life.

The studio was established in 2008, working across Australia and the globe, in places where people work, live, and connect. Our team is experienced, dedicated and inquisitive, continually refining our approach to enhance project outcomes.

The nature of our work is varied, applying design thinking to a wide range of project scales and typologies, frequently blurring boundaries between hospitality, retail, residential, commercial and institutional sectors.

The studio is led by Joint Creative Directors Mark Simpson and Damien Mulvihill, who have been honing a dynamic partnership and cultivating a shared vision for almost 20 years.

Notes:

This tour will take place on the morning of Saturday 14th March
Fringe event registration (including for this event) will become available closer to the event and full event ticket holders will be notified. Full event ticket holders have access to all fringe events

EVENT INFO

POWER OF COMMUNITY - Yarrayne / Guildford

DATES 12-14 March 2026

LOCATION Yarrayne / Guildford on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in the Victorian Central Goldfields region. The Friday main seminar day will be at the Guildford Public Hall, 32 Fryers St, Guildford Victoria

CPD 6 formal points available on the Friday. Delegates can make their own assessment for informal CPD for fringe events attended.

EVENT OVERVIEW & BOOKING INFO