Barcelona’s 16th Open House festival returns on 25 and 26 October, offering free access to 199 buildings across the city and nearby towns. This year’s edition includes 57 spaces that have never been open to the public before. The festival theme is ‘Feel the Architecture’.
Among the most notable new additions is the Palau del Marquès d’Alfarràs in Horta. The palace sits at the entrance to the Laberint d’Horta park and has just undergone a complete restoration. Between 2022 and 2025, the project cost nearly 5 million euros. It’s been designated as a Cultural Heritage Site of National Interest.
The restored palace features a bold historicist style with oriental elements. These create a monumental trompe-l’oeil effect. Visitors can now join guided tours of the building.
Meanwhile, the Estel building on Avinguda Roma offers a completely different architectural experience. The former Telefónica headquarters has been transformed through an extensive renovation. The imposing structure is now open, porous and habitable. The renovation brings back natural light and views by replacing opaque panels with glass galleries.
Other highlights include the Torre and Cripta del Convent dels Àngels, integrated within MACBA. Two spaces normally closed to the public are now accessible. The crypt and tower viewpoint offer 360-degree panoramic views of Barcelona. Additionally, the Real Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya near Park Güell opens its doors. The building was originally promoted as a home for orphaned children. Francesc Berenguer Mestres, a collaborator of Gaudí, designed the project.
For those interested in more recent architecture, a renovated home on Passeig Manuel Girona showcases comprehensive rehabilitation of a 1960s apartment block. Casa Granell, a residential building from 1901, displays subtle modernist architecture. The Tanatori Àltima Ronda de Dalt represents contemporary funeral home design.
The festival includes 139 buildings in Barcelona itself. However, nearby towns also participate. Badalona, Sant Joan Despí, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Vilassar de Dalt and Sitges all offer buildings to visit.
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