The architectural festival Open House Slovenia will open doors to new and renovated architectural projects, as well as important cultural heritage buildings throughout Slovenia, from April 12 to 14, marking its fifteenth year.

The purpose of the festival, throughout its years, has remained true to its basic mission—to raise awareness among the general public about the values ​​of well-designed spaces and to present examples of the best practices in contemporary architectural production as part of Slovenian culture and national identity. Through personal experiences in quality architecture, the festival enables a broader understanding of architecture and designed spaces, highlighting their importance for quality living.

Experts in the field of architecture and design, Blaž Budja, Maša Cvetko, Dean Lah, and Maja Stamenković comprised a professional jury that selected this year’s festival programme from the submitted projects.

During the festival, visitors will have the opportunity to explore more than 70 projects across the entire country. They will be able to visit private apartments, single-family houses, renovations, educational and cultural institutions, as well as business and tourist facilities.

In Ljubljana, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the residential neighbourhood Dolgi Most II, social housing Rakova Jelša II, community centre Golovec, and the Biotechnology Hub of the National Institute of Biology. The doors will also be open at the Nuclear Reactor Institute Jožef Stefan – TRIGA. As part of the festival, visitors will also have the opportunity to see the projects Bohinj Kindergarten and the Covering of the Remains of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Žiče Charterhouse and Temporary Lapidary, which were shortlisted for the EU Mies Award 2024.

The festival this year is titled “Architecture of New Opportunities,” highlighting the issue of inclusivity for all people and interest groups in the built and designed spaces. It addresses questions of equal opportunities and new possibilities for living, working, education, living, and development of the entire society, all living beings, and nature with the aim of seeking answers about coexistence that good architecture can enable, promote, and protect.

In the festival programme, various thematic projects will be highlighted, promoting accessibility and enabling community development. The festival will also feature thematic tours and workshops targeting different audience groups.

By supporting the principles of equal opportunities, the Open House Slovenia festival becomes not only a celebration of architectural creativity and heritage preservation but also fosters thinking and dialogue about our collective commitment to justice, freedom, and solidarity.

The entire programme of the Open House Slovenia 2024 festival is published on the Open House Slovenia website. Registrations for tours and guided visits are mandatory. Visitors can sign up for tours on the website from April 3, 2024, onwards.

We invite visitors of Open House Slovenia to participate in the Open Call for Visual Stories. It is an opportunity for everyone to interpret their experiences of the festival and the annual theme of Open House Europe—Accessibility and Inclusion—in any art form they wish—a series of photographs, a short film, a drawing, or any other medium for a visual narrative.