48H Open House invites the public to think about architecture from the senses

More than 200 buildings of stunning architectural value were open for free visits this weekend as part of the latest 48H Open House Barcelona festival.

In its latest edition, 48H Open House invites the public to experience architecture directly from the senses.

The Catalan capital wasn't the only city where visitors could visit sites, but also in ​​Badalona, ​​L'Hospitalet, Sant Joan Despí, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sitges and Vilassar de Dalt.

Over 200 activities and almost a dozen separate itineraries were offered as part of the event.

Elisenda Bonet, director of the event, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that they expected around 75,000 people to enjoy the festival's buildings.

Many of the sites open for free this weekend are normally not open to the public at all, and the festival aims to accompany visits with explanations and demonstrations to give locals a chance to get to know “their own city” and encourage them to start recognizing certain buildings as “heritage.”

Among the buildings taking part, there are all kinds of profiles, from homes, to studios, workspaces or locations with panoramic views. “There are places that are already perceived as emblematic, but also others that are not and that are, such as community centers, hospitals or libraries”, Bonet details.

More than a thousand people volunteered to work on the festival, facilitating the public visits. 

Long queues were seen in front of many buildings since early in the morning on both days of the weekend festival. 

This was the case of the Diagonal One Tower, where Elvira, from Barcelona, ​​managed to go up. She has been visiting different sites as part of 48H Open House for "many years," and she says she's "delighted to be able to visit all these places where you can’t normally enter.”

In previous editions, she has already visited the Arc de Triomf, the Venetian Towers, the Montjuïc water fountain, the Palau Centelles or the Hostafrancs Town Hall. 

As for Daniela, from Les Franqueses del Vallès, this is her first time doing the experience, after receiving a recommendation from her teacher. “We are happy with the guided tour because it gives us a lot of information that we might not get in the same way online.”