Barcelona’s annual 48h Open House BCN architecture festival will open 217 buildings across six municipalities on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, organisers confirmed on Tuesday.
The event, now in its 17th edition, will include sites in Barcelona, Badalona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Vilassar de Dalt, and Sitges. According to the festival statement, 28% of the buildings are new additions and 155 are located within Barcelona city limits.
This year’s theme, ‘Life Without Architecture’, invites visitors to reflect on the role of buildings by imagining a world without them. The programme includes 224 activities and seven curated itineraries exploring heritage, rehabilitation, and contemporary design.
Festival Highlights
Fifteen sites have been specially highlighted for their architectural significance. These include La Llotja de Mar, Hotel Arts, CEU Abat Oliba University, CEM Espronceda, Palau del Marquès d'Alfarràs, Casetes de la Platja del Garraf, and Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower.
Personalised Visits and Broader Integration
Since 2023, 48h Open House BCN has formed part of Barcelona Design Week. The festival’s website features a recommender tool that suggests three tailored spaces based on a short visitor questionnaire.
The festival aims to make architecture accessible to everyone, encouraging people to explore spaces they might not otherwise enter.
Further details and the full programme are available via the La Vanguardia coverage and the official festival channels.
Reported by La Vanguardia Barcelona, Europa Press Barcelona.
