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View from the top of the Arc de Triomf, Ciutat Vella

This coming weekend Barcelona’s great buildings open their doors to the public. The Festival D’Arquitectura de Barcelona, or Open House Barcelona, is part of the wonderful Open House Worldwide organisation.

From their website…

‘Open House’ is a simple but powerful concept: showcasing outstanding architecture for all to experience, completely for free. Open House initiatives invite everyone to explore and understand the value of a well-designed built environment.

I know of the one in London (my mother is a big fan) but I hadn’t heard that Barcelona had its own until it was too late last year. So this year I’m ready!

Palau Savassona, Ciutat Vella

Festival D’Arquitectura de Barcelona

The 3rd edition of this event takes place the weekend of 27th & 28th October. Over 150 buildings of all types, shapes and sizes will be open to the public and it’s completely free of charge, so be prepared to queue. Architects, users and planners explain about each building to the visitors so you get a real understanding for a place you might have walked past every day.

Torre Amat, Sant Gervasi

You’re never going to be able to see everything. And some buildings are only open on Saturday or Sunday while others are open both days. I suggest you pick a few, check when they’re open, plan your route, and start early. Get to what you might think would be the more popular places first, even before they open.

Open House Barcelona programme

Torre d’Aigües de la Catalana de Gas, Ciutat Vella

So what is there to see? Well, you can get a rare view from the top of the Arc de Triomf; discover more about your local market, Santa Caterina, Barceloneta and others; discover the baroque splendour of Palau de la Virreina and scale the 45m Torre d’Aigües. In Eixample visit the Antigua Fàbrica Damm, the Mandarin Hotel, the University of Barcelona or even go up the Banc Sabadell tower. Have a nose around apartments in Gràcia or the Casa Bonaventura. Visit the Palau de Pedralbes in Les Corts, or in Sant Andreu go down into the 19th century tunnels that ensured the constant supply of water to the city of Barcelona. This is just a few of the locations on offer, the list goes on and on.

Antiga Fàbrica Damm, Eixample

For anyone fascinated by architecture, history or just Barcelona itself, this weekend is sure to be a real eye-opener.

Casa Marsans, Gràcia

Check out the programme either by day or district or there’s a map showing all of the locations. You can also read the Open House Barcelona press releasefor more about the event.

Open House Barcelona links

• Website: www.48hopenhousebarcelona.org
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/48HOpenHouseBarcelona
• Twitter: twitter.com/48hOpenHouseBcn

Open House Barcelona video

Watch the incredibly short promo video for the 48h Open House Barcelona. It gives you a (tiny) taste, of what to expect.

Check out the Open House Worldwide website to see when it’s on in your home city. They are currently in London (where it started), New York, Dublin, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Melbourne, Galway, Slovenia, Chicago, Rome, Helsinki, Lisbon, Perth, Adelaide and of course, Barcelona.