Barcelona Open house any insights?

Without actual knowledge, if there are any Gaudi buildings not normally open, that would be good.

This link goes to a clickable map that looks like it might be this year's. Much less convenient than starting from a list, but you might be able to get a jump on your planning here: https://www.48hopenhousebarcelona.org/ca/mapa/

The Flanders region of Belgium was doing something like this a couple of weeks ago. I had access to a large part of an Art Nouveau convent outside Mechelen.

48H Open House Barcelona is an annual architecture festival, usually held in October, that opens up buildings across Barcelona and nearby towns to the public for free.

What it is

The “48H Open House” concept actually comes from Open House London, which started in 1992. The idea was to give the public free access to buildings and spaces that are usually closed or hard to visit, showcasing architecture and urban design in an engaging way. It quickly spread across Europe and the world under the Open House Worldwide umbrella, with each city adapting it to local architecture, culture, and events. Barcelona joined this network, creating its own version focused on the city and nearby municipalities.

In Barcelona, over 250 buildings are open for visits, including churches, schools, libraries, public and private architectural works, and unique homes. The festival also offers guided tours, themed routes, activities for children, and special visits. Some visits require prior booking, depending on the space, to manage crowds. All visits are free.

Site: https://www.48hopenhousebarcelona.org/ca/ -stay tune for the program. Yet, 80% of the open houses repeat year after year, so check 2024: https://beteve.cat/agenda/48h-open-house-barcelona/

Where and when

It covers Barcelona and surrounding municipalities such as Badalona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, Sitges, Vilassar de Dalt, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet. The 2025 edition will take place on October 25 and 26, with Vilassar de Dalt participating on the 26th.

Why it’s interesting

Provides access to spaces that are normally closed to the public. Encourages reflection on how we live and what we value in buildings, like light, comfort, functionality, and beauty. Combines architecture with culture, design, and history through tours and activities.

Into consideration

• No, the main Modernist sites are not included: Casa Batlló, Sagrada Família, Palau de la Música Catalana, etc. They decline to participate in this festival because they're already well known (and full most of the year), so they don't need further exposure.
• If you’re not a fan of crowds… just forget about this festival. The pace of visits is pretty smooth for most places, especially the lesser-known spots, but at some sites, the queues and crowds can get pretty intense. Beyond the chance to peek inside normally private spaces, keep in mind that Barcelona is a rather 'expensive' city for locals, so when something’s free, a lot of residents show up. This goes for any free event, from the big neighbourhood festivals like La Mercè or Festes de Gràcia, to the Sant Joan fireworks or the Three Kings parade in January.
• Last year, they added a handy new feature on their website—an interactive traffic-light map showing how busy each spot was. I’m guessing they’ll bring it back this year since it was a big hit with visitors. https://beteve.cat/cultura/mapa-temps-real-48h-open-house-barcelona-2024/

Enjoy!

Wow thank you for the great insight. I love this event in Chicago. It is actually the weekend before. I realize there will be crowds but I am so happy we will be there for it.