Open House Europe

The third Annual Summit of Open House Europe starts today! 🎉
The summit is hosted by Open House Athens at The Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall — a striking example of modern architecture defined by its austere Doric lines. The Concert Hall was constructed in two phases, 1976-1991 and 1998-2004. Prominent Greek and foreign architects and engineers, including H. Keilholz, E. Vourekas, I. Skroumpelos, V. Sgoutas, K. Kyriakides + associates, A.N. Tompazis office and Thomson, were involved in designing a venue that would allow the production of events to the highest standards.

Programme:

FRIDAY / 9 JAN

18:30 – Opening of the Visual Stories Exhibition

19:00 – Presentations ‘Embracing Future Heritage’
w/ Ilias Papageorgiou (PILA Studio), Eleftheria Deko (Eleftheria Deko Lighting Design), Thibaud Stelmaszyk (K-Studio)

SATURDAY / 10 JAN

10:00 – Presentations and Discussion ‘Heritage as a Building Material’
w/ Dionisis Sotovikis, Nikoletta Zakynthinou Xanthi (XZA Architects), Maruša Zorec (ARREA), Rok Žnidaršič (Medprostor), Stavros Martinos (ek Magazine)

12:15 – Panel Discussion ‘Shaping Future Tendencies and Values in Architecture’
w/ Sergei Bazarya (European Heritage Days), Matevž Čelik (European architecture platform LINA), Jonas Janke (HouseEurope!), Jutta Kastner (European Commission), Stathis N. Kalyvas

15:30 – Panel Discussion ‘Acting Locally, Sharing Globally: The Impact of Open House Across Regions’
w/ Dr. Tania Davidge (Open House Melbourne), Martynas Germanavičius (Open House Europe), Robert Newcombe (OH STGO), Tadas Šarūnas (Sociologist), Manijeh Verghese (Open City)

17:00 – Closing Lecture by Dr. Theodore Spyropoulos, Director of the Architectural Association’s Design Research Lab.

The Summit is co-hosted by Open House Slovenia and Open House Thessaloniki.

Join the conversation in Athens!

📍 Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall, Vas. Sofias Ave. & Kokkali St. 1, Athens, Greece (Nikos Skalkotas Hall)

Photos:
1. By Yannis Bournias.
2. By Thanos Xenitidis.
3. By Karamanian.
4. By Elpida Spyrou.
5. By Eleni Grigoratou.
Courtesy of the Megaron and Open House Athens.

Open House Europe is a cooperation project coordinated by Architektūros fondas and co-funded by the European Union. 🇪🇺

Recap – Open House Valencia

Open House Valencia 2025 allowed the city to become a space for learning and reflection, focusing on how people imbue architecture with meaning. From the restoration of the Turia Campus to debates over the landmark Vinival winery, the festival explored how existing heritage can evolve into meaningful architecture for the future. Through industrial routes and thoughtful discussions, participants reflected on the built environment as a narrative of collective identity, resilience, and change.

🔗 Read the full reflection on the ‘Future Heritage’ in Valencia on our website. The link is in the comments.

The third Annual Summit of Open House Europe, hosted by Open House Athens on 9–10 January 2026, will further explore the theme Future Heritage. Join the conversation in Athens – learn more about the event on our website.

📸 Photos:
1, 2. Turia Campus.
3, 4. Vinival winery.
5, 6. Industrial heritage route through El Marítimo.
7, 8. Workshops for kids.
All photos by Nastassia Tarusava, courtesy of Open House Valencia.

Open House Valencia is part of Open House Europe, a cooperation project coordinated by Architektūros fondas and co-funded by the European Union 🇪🇺

Recap – 48H Open House Barcelona

Held under the Catalan title of ‘Sent l’arquitectura’ (Eng. feel/hear the architecture), the 16th edition of 48h Open House Barcelona activated visitors to reacquaint themselves with the built environment sensorially. Through this lens, visitors engaged with the continent-wide theme of ‘Future Heritage’, understanding the subjective and emotional nature of deciding what gets preserved and what is relegated.

🔗 Read the full reflection on the ‘Future Heritage’ in Barcelona on our website. The link is in the comments.

Future Heritage will be further explored at the third Annual Summit of Open House Europe, hosted by Open House Athens on 9–10 January 2026. Learn more about the event on our website.

📸 Photos:
1, 2. Hospital de Sant Pau.
3. Round-table discussion Patrimonis Futurs (Future Heritage). Photo by Antonio Navarro Wijkmark
All photos courtesy of 48h Open House Barcelona.

48h Open House Barcelona is part of Open House Europe, a cooperation project coordinated by Architektūros fondas and co-funded by the European Union 🇪🇺

These are the three selected Visual Stories from Open House Valencia! 📷
Created in response to the theme Future Heritage, they were chosen by the organisers and will be featured in Athens at the third Annual Summit of Open House Europe on 9–10 January 2026.

⚪ ‘Light Traces’ by Alba Maria Fombuena Escrig
⚪ ‘Gulliver Magic' by Carlos Lluna
⚪ ‘the threshold of harmony’ by Ana Isabel Amesti Sanchez

Congratulations to the creators!

The exhibition, hosted by Open House Athens, will be opened on 9 January, at 6:30pm, at the Megaron in Athens, Greece.

You can explore these works, along with all the other submissions, on our website.

Open House Valencia is part of Open House Europe, a cooperation project coordinated by Architektūros fondas and co-funded by the European Union 🇪🇺