Open House Lisboa, now in its 14th edition, returns this year on the weekend of 10 and 11 May with the theme “The Invention of Lisbon”. Organised by the Lisbon Architecture Triennale and curated by architects Daniela Sá and João Carmo Simões, the event features a list of 72 spaces, 23 of which are making their debuts on the festival’s itinerary. The programme also includes four new Urban Tours, which will be presented and accompanied by experts; the Accessible Tours, which will include 21 spaces in 2025; Soundwalks; the Plus and Junior Programme, with various activities.

The young duo behind the architecture studio JCS Arch+ and publishing house Monade, Daniela Sá and João Carmo Simões, offer a fresh perspective on dozens of unique city spaces, spanning from the Romans to the 21st century, and stretching from downtown to highrises: “Cities were born for us to talk to each other. They are the invention of a place for us to be together. And this is complex and difficult, but it is also the greatest human invention that we have collectively built. The way we design a city has a decisive impact on the quality of life of those who live there, so our invitation is for everyone: open the doors, observe and think about what makes Lisbon, think about how we want to live together.”

Through this year’s theme, Open House Lisboa also reflects the continent-wide programme of the Open House Europe 2025, titled “Future Heritage”. “The Invention of Lisbon” shines a light on the connections that shape the city—on city-making, on the often overlooked or invisible spaces that lie between buildings. Among these infrastructures and connections, past and present, there are many that endure due to their architectural quality and significance. Spaces such as the Loreto Gallery, one of the five galleries of the city’s aqueduct, or the Torre do Tombo, the national archive that holds historical documents dating back to the 9th century, are all Future Heritage.

The Open House Lisboa itinerary highlights places that are central to the city’s architecture, such as the National Pantheon, the Vilalva Palace – Ombudsman’s Office or the Camões Institute, but also those that stand out for their uniqueness, such as the Fronteira Palace, still inhabited by the descendants of Dom João de Mascarenhas, the first Marquis of Fronteira; the exclusive UNI Cocktail Bar, in Príncipe Real; and some private homes where you can see the result of the intervention of architectural studios, such as Casa no Castelo. Check the festival’s website for the full programme.

We invite all visitors of Open House Lisboa to participate in the Open Call for Visual Stories—an opportunity to creatively interpret the festival experience and this year’s Open House Europe theme, “Future Heritage”. Submissions can take any visual form, including photography, short film, drawing, or other artistic expressions.