The Open House concept!
By besweet
@besweet (9863)
Ireland
April 2, 2017 10:59am CST
This weekend we had a big architectural event in my city.
It is a project that allows people to access many beautiful and innovative buildings around the city. The guides are volunteer students in the school of Architecture, or even other engineer professionals and they provide guided tours in the interior of the selected buildings.
The entrance is free in those places and there is a variety of locations to see around the city. I decided to visit a recently renovated building in the city center, it was an office building constructed in the 1970's that became residential after the renovation that was completed 2 years ago. Two of the owners were kind enough to let us inside their houses and we had the chance to see the great view from their balconies and their nicely designed spaces in the apartments.
It was such an interesting day for me.
The architects informed us that this is a worldwide concept and the event is expanding to new cities. I think it also promotes the idea of renovating old buildings which is an interesting concept of reusing existing spaces in big cities.
Do you have this concept in your area too?
Would you open your apartment or house for a guided tour to the public?
8 people like this
9 responses
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
2 Apr 17
If they paid us $10 per head, maybe. Otherwise, no thanks.
3 people like this
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
2 Apr 17
This would be nice! Haha!
I don't think they are paid for it though, it is non-profit and everyone was volunteering in this event!
Each tour lasted 25 minutes, which included a short presentation of the building, and a quick tour inside the apartments and on the terrace. I think we were inside each apartment for 5 minutes and then continued to the next.
4 people like this
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
3 Apr 17
@PatZAnthony Same here, and sometimes the tours are inside public buildings, museums or even foregn embassies so it is up to them to give permission without an economical profit.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
2 Apr 17
@besweet No, the people touring don't usually pay unless it is a charity fundraiser. The homeowners don't get anything either as far as we know.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45472)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Apr 17
We have the same sort of thing here in Hamilton. It's called Open Doors. I've never gone to any of the places that are open, but I'd like to, especially Dundurn Castle. They have it in Toronto, too, and probably other places around Ontario.
2 people like this
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
2 Apr 17
It looks very similar, it could be exactly the same concept from a different organization. It's a very nice experience, it gives the chance to discover the modern architecture of our city. I hope you can make it this year, I went there with my boyfriend and he was excited too.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45472)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Apr 17
@besweet Something else always seems to come up,
1 person likes this
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
3 Apr 17
@BarBaraPrz I understand, and the even is just for two days so it is possible to have plans already! This house that I visited was very close to my boyfriend's home so it was easily accessible!
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
11 Apr 17
It was a surprise to me that two of the apartments accepted to open their houses. It was a very organised and controled tour, they only allower groups of 5 people with supervision of the guides inside. The guides were also making a presentation of the architectural design of the house so I think it was safe. But they still opened the houses to 100 people or more that day.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
23 Apr 17
I think that those people who opened their houses were also proud of their apartments and decoration and they wanted to open them to this architectural event. Not everyone in the building felt the same though, but it was nice for us that two people decided to open them for the event.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
29 Apr 17
@ridingbet I also think that they are proud, and they want to show the unique architecture of their homes to the public. They also had a book in the entrance where visitors could write their reviews and their impressions!
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Apr 17
@besweet that is true. having a house with different structure and unique features is good to show off. maybe those who have beautiful houses are surely proud to show their houses to the public.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
10 Apr 17
Wow that does sound exciting and nice use of architecture
1 person likes this
@besweet (9863)
• Ireland
10 Apr 17
It would be nice to have more buildings in the event, here it is organized for two days every year so we have to make a good schedule and visit the ones that are more interesting for us. I hope you can have the chance to see the older buildings too!
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
2 Apr 17
Sounds like fun. It's a good idea to turn disused office/shop space into residential space.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325584)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Apr 17
That's a nice idea. I think it would be very interesting to participate in something like this.
