When Novocastrians visit The Station later this month, they’ll be forgiven for thinking they never left home.
A single storey house will pop-up overnight, welcoming locals through its doors from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 January.
It is not your average house, though. The immersive installation has been made, styled and furnished by businesses in Newcastle.
“It is massive, the house is seven by seven metres and three metres tall, so you won’t be able to miss it,” event organiser Tim Neve said.
“Everyone that attends will be able to wander through the house for free and everything that is in the house will be available to purchase from local retailers.
“It’s basically a massive collaboration of all the local designers, retailers, makers and traders of the Newcastle City Centre.”
The event was inspired by retail giant Target after the Open House Newcastle team did some research into events around the world.
“In New York, Target took over Grand Central Station with a double storey house, so we aren’t being as grand as that,” Tim added.
“Ours is only single storey, and the whole house was filled with everything from Target, so it’s basically the same kind of concept here except we are doing it at a grass roots, small business level.”
Around 20 small businesses are participating in the event, with a series of workshops and demonstrations also scheduled.
These will be hosted by inspiring presenters, like Andy and Deb from popular renovation television series The Block.
“We basically realised it would be a one-stop shop for renovating and home products,” Tim said.
“There has been quite a bit of buzz so far.
“It’s going to be really exciting; I can’t wait for people to get here and wander through the house.”
City of Newcastle is supporting the event through its Special Business Rates Program.
These funds are collected from businesses in Newcastle City Centre, Hamilton, Mayfield, New Lambton and Wallsend, and are reserved exclusively for the promotion, beautification and development of these business precincts.
Numbers for the workshops will be limited and social distancing rules will apply at all times.
Go to the Open House Newcastle website for more.
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