Coming soon: Essen, Helsinki, London, Bergen & Copenhagen

UNESCO Welterbe Zollverein. Photo: Ravi Sejk

OHPEN HOUSE ESSEN
ESSEN, GERMANY
6-7 SEPTEMBER

The theme of this year's edition of Open House Essen is Future Heritage: The Legacy of Tomorrow. Highlights include the Schaudepot of the Ruhr Museum; the Episcopal General Vicariate, the Creative Cathedral TRUDI; the redesigned Heilig Geist Art Space showing the Erlösung NOW exhibition and the city’s oldest monument, Essen Cathedral. Visitors can also share tea at Ayasofya Mosque and take a silent walk through the UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein with noise-cancelling headphones, allowing for concentrated, quiet exploration.

Atlas Vuosaari. Photo: Tuomas Uusiheimo

OPEN HOUSE HELSINKI
HELSINKI, FINLAND
11-14 SEPTEMBER

Open House Helsinki will focus on the city’s waterfronts under the theme Horizon. In collaboration with Helsinki Design Week, the festival explores Helsinki’s 130 km shoreline, an archipelago running from the thickets of Sipoo’s border through the rocky shores of Eastern Helsinki and the urban waterfronts of the city centre. Highlights include Aino Ackté Villa in Laajasalo, the Atlas high-rise in Vuosaari, and the functionalist terminal at Malmi Airport. Guided tours will uncover hidden courtyards in Punavuori and Kalasatama, offering fresh perspectives on architecture and urban planning.

Pine Heath. Photo: Felix Speller

OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL
LONDON, UK
13-21 SEPTEMBER

This year’s line up of Open House Festival could be the biggest and boldest edition yet, with a diverse programme of hands-on experiences, one-of-a-kind tours, and extraordinary buildings to visit. New additions this year include Studio AVC’s offices in a historic 1929 shop once linked to William Morris, The King’s Foundation in a refurbished warehouse, and the London Film School, a former banana store. Other highlights include Rana Begum’s celebrated Little Citadel, behind‑the‑scenes access to leading architecture studios, venues at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and fascinating private residences.

Tonnis Hus. Photo: Alex Coppo

OPEN HOUSE BERGEN
BERGEN, NORWAY
20-21 SEPTEMBER

This edition of Open House Bergen features projects in the city centre, with a focus on Nygårdshøyden and Fjellsiden, along with selected homes in Årstad and Paradis that explore the use of conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation. Highlights include architectural tours at the royal residence Gamlehaugen and Leif Grung’s gem in Fjellveien, Villa Lau Eide. The University of Bergen celebrates its bicentennial, opening Fasting’s Minde, Knut Fægris hus, and Tårnsalen. Don't miss Tonnis hus and Enebolig Kvist Knarvik, two buildings designed in close relation with nature and a fluid connection between inside and outside.

DR Koncerthuset. Photo courtesy of Open House Copenhagen.

OPEN HOUSE COPENHAGEN
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
20-21 SEPTEMBER

Now led by the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial, Open House Copenhagen invites the public to places in the city they’ve always dreamed of seeing—and ones they didn’t even know existed. Across the city, visitors can explore modern Danish architecture, historically significant buildings, private homes, climate-friendly landscape design, and many other exciting architectural and cultural gems. Highlights include the vibrant community of Mjølnerparken; the iconic Bridge Tower at Langebro, the innovative Lynetten Wastewater Treatment Plant, the sustainable showcase at Thoravej 29 and the majestic Grundtvig's Church.