The cover up

CULT French fashion brand APC is slowly moving into homewares but it's their quilts that are becoming collector's items.

APC Quilts

CULT French fashion brand APC is slowly moving into homewares with an impressive range of cushion and candles, but it's their quilts that are becoming collector's items.

While their clothing is sleek and chic, the quilts are wildly patterned and fantastically folksy, utilising shirt fabrics from past collections. The quilt project was started by patchworker Jessica Ogden and APC's Jean Touitou's shared personal interest of the craft.

Melbourne's Grace boutique (595 Malvern Road, Toorak) is stocking a limited collection as part of their fifth birthday celebrations. As well as the APC quilts, Grace's owners, Georgia Danos and Ilana Moses, have Danish scarfs from Epice and an exclusive neck plate from jeweller Dannijo.

"In celebration of our five year milestone, we have collaborated with many of our favourite international designers on some incredible gorgeous and totally exclusive birthday products," Danos says. "All limited editions are available nowhere else in the world; these one-off pieces felt like the perfect way to spoil our loyal customers and to celebrate this exciting and special time."

Open doors

NOT all of Queensland's attractions are found outdoors. Today, fans of architecture can take part in the Brisbane Open House program with 51 of the city's best buildings and spaces open to the public. Included in the free program are the recently completed Supreme & District Court and 111 Eagle Street, the historic Windmill at Spring Hill, Roma Street Fire Station and Tara House.

This is the event's third year and past favourites such as the Masonic Memorial Temple, Brisbane City Hall, Queensland Museum, Mercy Heritage Centre and Hassell Architecture Studio remain on the program.

"2011 was our second year and it was an overwhelming success with almost 17,500 visits to 30 buildings on the day," said Queensland Government Architect Malcolm Middleton.

"The increasing number of visitors each year shows that Brisbanites share an appreciation of the wonderful historic and contemporary architecture, green design and engineering nestled within this great city."

This year, the inaugural children's program launches with an interactive booklet for children created by 10 of Queensland's leading architects, designers and illustrators, as well as a mobile website application featuring geo-locational technology to help visitors pinpoint each and every building.

"This year we will enjoy sharing Brisbane's interesting stories and secrets with more people. Visitors will certainly be spoilt for choice," Middleton said.

A full building list is at www.brisbaneopenhouse.com.au.

Chipping away

AN earth-covered library built into the side of a hill in Victoria's Macedon Ranges received the 2012 Australian Timber Design Award.

The judging panel commended Paul Haar Architects for the expert use of engineered timber within the building. The Candlebark School Library's earth coverage and location offers the 245 students and teachers at the school protection in the event of a bushfire.