Open House Europe Volunteer Exchanges 2025
Open House Europe (OHEu) is a European cooperation project that connects 15 European cities, including Slovenia. Its mission is to encourage a more inclusive discussion on architecture as a shared European identity and to empower citizens to advocate for well-designed built environments. The project promotes accessibility and highlights good practices in architecture that respond to contemporary environmental and social challenges. It builds on local architecture festivals, which include free guided tours, lectures, and other activities, providing the public with a unique opportunity to engage with the built environment. Shared themes and activities foster accessibility, connectivity, and reveal the role of architecture as part of European identity, as well as its response to contemporary environmental and social challenges.
The project, coordinated by Architektūros fondas in Vilnius, Lithuania, includes partner organizations from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
The Volunteer Exchange program, which is one of the central components of the OHEu project, promotes international networking and the exchange of ideas and good practices, while also offering a unique opportunity to deepen the understanding of European architectural heritage. In doing so, it strengthens the role of festivals as active co-creators of architecture and culture and contributes to raising awareness of the importance of architecture for quality of life in cities across Europe.
Volunteers can apply for exchanges through a public call available on the Open House Europe website. The requirement is that they have previously participated in at least one Open House Slovenia festival. This year, five OHS volunteers took part in exchanges in various European cities. Read about their experiences below.
Ivana opened this year’s exchange season by attending the Open House Praha festival during the third weekend of May. Before her arrival, she had the opportunity to choose the tasks she wanted to perform during the festival. Ivana selected guiding tours, which allowed her to work at three different locations during the festival and gain a broad perspective on how the event operates. Each building was a story of its own – from hidden courtyards to historic spaces that are usually closed to the public.
In addition, she had the opportunity to observe creating social media content, as two other exchange volunteers focused on that task. Spending time with them gave her insight into this aspect of the event as well. She was particularly impressed by the fact that all guided tours are conducted by volunteers, whose energy and dedication create an exceptionally accessible and lively festival atmosphere. During the exchange, she felt very welcomed and included by both the other volunteers and the organization as a whole. Before the festival began, she visited the information center and met the organizers of Open House Praha.
»The exchange opened my eyes to architecture as something truly community-oriented. I was able to experience the festival from two perspectives: as an organizer and as a curious visitor. It was one of the most unique experiences I have had so far.«
Sara participated in an exchange in Brno, which also took place from May 16 to 19. She was most surprised by the scale of the festival and the way volunteers were organized. Through her participation, she learned about some best practices of the local event, while also showcasing how volunteer organization and event management are handled at Open House Slovenia. The exchange gave her a broader perspective on the Czech Republic, the festival, and traveling itself.
»There are far more stories behind the buildings than meet the eye, and it was an experience I will never forget. Beyond the architecture, I had the opportunity to meet wonderful people from Italy, Greece, and Croatia. Very different individuals united by the same passion – Open House.«
Matija visited Rome on the last weekend of May. On the first day, he used the time to see the “must-see” sights before meeting in the evening with other OHEu volunteers and the OH Roma team. His task during the festival was to record visitor arrivals at three different locations, which gave him insight into the festival’s operations from the inside.
Together with the Open House Roma team and other participants from across Europe, he experienced the rhythm of one of the largest architectural festivals on the continent. With over 250 locations and 550 volunteers, the festival opens up the city’s architecture in a truly unique way. His experience was marked by numerous visits to buildings, museums, and various works, representing just a small part of the historical mosaic of this remarkably rich city.
»The exchange in Rome was truly a delightful experience. After an architectural walk through Trastevere, numerous visits, and getting to know colleagues from across Europe, I explored the city from a completely new perspective.«
Urša participated in the Open House Essen festival on the first weekend of September. She worked at various locations, including a guided visit to a restoration warehouse located in a former mining facility. There, she joined visitors on a “silent walk,” exploring the old mine through the experience of a deaf person. She also attended a concert in a former church. At the festival, she was responsible for surveying visitors.
The festival is designed to give locals and visitors insight into spaces that are usually closed to the public, while also aiming to break down stereotypes and connect architecture with other arts, such as dance, painting, and music.
»The exchange further opened my eyes to the powerful impact architecture has on individuals and cities. Architecture connects history and various forms of art, which can be felt within the buildings themselves.«
Noemi concluded this year’s exchange season by attending Open House Dublin from October 17 to 20. In the Irish capital, she participated in various tours – from an interesting boat tour of Dublin’s harbor, where she assisted with welcoming visitors, to a visit to the modernist Busáras bus station. What stayed with her the most was the “Discover Architecture by Touch” tour for blind and visually impaired visitors, where she accompanied one of the participants and experienced how architecture can be perceived through touch.
»The tour for blind and visually impaired visitors was an experience that completely changed my perspective on experiencing architecture and helped me better understand the challenges faced by people with blindness. My task was to guide a very kind gentleman, Gerard. It was my first time leading a visually impaired person – explaining to him where we were and what lay ahead. I guided him to the chimney, columns, and details he could feel. During the tour, larger-scale models of the building were provided, which we could touch with our hands. A completely new dimension of experiencing architecture opened up to me.«
All five OHS volunteers gained valuable experience during the exchanges in organizing tours of architectural and urban landmarks. In addition, they explored local cultures and developed skills in teamwork and communication.
Open House Europe is coordinated Architektūros fondas and co-funded by the European Union.
In Slovenia the Open House Europe project has been co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration.