The festival is guided by a clear ambition: to bring architecture closer to the people. By promoting an open, multidirectional, and honest dialogue, OPEN Bilbao seeks to take architecture off its pedestal and reconnect it with the daily lives of those it serves. In this spirit, the programme encourages collective reflection on both heritage and the future—understanding architecture not only as a legacy but as a living, evolving tool for shaping the world we want to inhabit.

In 2025, OPEN Bilbao joins the continent-wide programme of Open House Europe with the shared theme Future Heritage. The theme invites reflection on how architecture connects the past, present, and future of European cities. It emphasises the importance of preserving and reinterpreting architectural heritage in a rapidly changing world, shaped by challenges such as urbanisation, social transformation, and shifting ways of designing and inhabiting spaces. Through the festival’s diverse programme, visitors will encounter contemporary practices that balance tradition and innovation, opening up a dialogue about which elements of the built environment should be preserved and how the decisions we make today will shape the legacy we leave for future generations. With this perspective, the festival broadens the traditional concept of heritage to include not only historical buildings but also contemporary architecture, local knowledge, and emerging ways of designing and inhabiting the city.

At the heart of the festival’s week-long programme are guided tours. 89 buildings and emblematic spaces will open their doors to the public, many of them usually inaccessible. More than 450 volunteers will accompany visitors, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm while offering new perspectives on the city.

Throughout the week, a full line-up of talks, workshops, panel discussions, and urban tours will complement the main programme. These activities aim to spark dialogue and critical thinking around architecture and urban design, encouraging participants to reflect on the role of architecture in shaping inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.

Accessibility and inclusion remain defining commitments of OPEN Bilbao. More than 80% of participating buildings are accessible to people with reduced mobility, and the festival provides specific resources to ensure that everyone can engage fully in the experience.

In search of a language that brings architecture closer to people, the OPEN Bilbao programme promotes open, multidirectional, and honest dialogue. The festival aims to take architecture off its pedestal and bring it back to the street — reconnecting it with the people it serves. In 2025, OPEN Bilbao encourages collective reflection on both heritage and the future — understanding architecture not only as a legacy but as a living, evolving tool for shaping the world we want to inhabit.

We invite all visitors of OPEN Bilbao 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.

The post Open House Bilbao appeared first on Open House Europe.

The 8th edition of Open House Bilbao seeks to expand the public’s understanding of architecture by highlighting its diversity. The festival will explore how the profession has evolved since the 2008 economic crisis, offering visitors the chance to engage with hybrid, sustainable, and participatory approaches to design. By featuring architectural practices that focus on community, ecology, and creative innovation, the festival aims to expand the public’s view of architecture, showcasing not only iconic buildings but also lesser-known projects that challenge and diversify the traditional narrative of the field.

This year, Open House Bilbao introduces a range of activities designed to engage participants of all ages and backgrounds. The festival’s programme is structured around six key actions: WALK, TALK, DESIGN, PLAY, SEE, and VISIT. Visitors can embark on thematic urban walks that explore the relationship between neighbourhood design and community life or join family-friendly tours that use play to explore Bilbao’s architectural heritage. Creative workshops and exhibitions will offer additional ways to engage with the city’s built environment.

As part of the Open House Europe 2024 programme, which focuses on accessibility and inclusion, Open House Bilbao places a strong emphasis on these issues. From guided walks led by experts in social design to creative workshops on inclusive urbanism, the programme is designed to engage participants from all walks of life. The interactive workshop ‘Rethinking School Playgrounds’ will explore the importance of inclusive and healthy educational spaces, while the discussion ‘Ladies Make the City’ will focus on the vital role women play in architecture, urban planning, and design.

As always, visitors will have the opportunity to explore over 70 architectural spaces throughout the city, including new additions to the festival’s catalogue. Guided tours, many of which require no prior registration, will provide a unique chance to learn more about the city’s architectural treasures, from contemporary buildings to historically significant sites. Special visits to peripheral areas and emerging local studios will also offer a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and opportunities faced by today’s architects.

Open House Bilbao 2024 celebrates architecture’s diversity, innovation, and potential to transform communities. With a wide variety of events, tours, and activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t miss your chance to explore Bilbao’s architectural heritage and discover new ways of thinking about the spaces we live and work in. Explore the full festival programme at openhousebilbao.org.

We invite visitors of Open House Bilbao 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.

The post Open House Bilbao appeared first on Open House Europe.