Here in METALOCUS, as media partners of the event, we are pleased to present the first edition of Open House Madrid, directed by Paloma Gómez and Pati Núñez, which will take place in Madrid on 26 and 27 September with a long list of buildings and architecture studies to visit.
- OPEN HOUSE is still looking for volunteers to act as guides of selected buildings. We invite you to participate by sending an email to voluntarios@openhousemadrid.org
Although the specialized public is the most obvious target of the festival, the organization is making an effort to bring the architecture and urbanism to a wider audience, as has already happened in cities like New York, Barcelona and London.
OPEN HOUSE is a festival of architecture and urbanism which takes place one weekend each year in over 30 cities around the world. For two days, the doors of dozens of public buildings, workplaces, residences, studios of artists and architects, etc. which usually can not be visited, are open to the public.
This is a free event for the public, which promotes knowledge of the city and recognition of the value of urban space.
OPEN HOUSE born in London 20 years ago. Subsequently cities like Rome, Oslo, Athens, Melbourne, Prague and Barcelona joined OPEN HOUSE WORLDWIDE. Currently, the festival is also organized in New York, Dublin, Tel Aviv, Adelaide, Jerusalem, Helsinki, Chicago, Lisbon, Monterrey, Thessaloniki, Belfast, Buenos Aires and Nicosia.
For the first time Madrid joins the international Open House network. The 26th and September 27th everyone will visit near 70 buildings and urban areas of the capital, some of which are not usually accessible to the public.
This is the case of the Bank of Spain. During the festival there are two kind of visits in this historic building. One of architectural character, in which you can tour the 100,000 m² building that contains interventions made by Rafael Moneo and Mansilla + Tuñón with the help of a guide; in the other visit you can see the art collection housed in the Bank.
Other proposals are emblematic buildings from an architectural point of view such as the Gimnasio Maravillas, located in the Chamartin district, designed by the legendary architect Alejandro de la Sota.
There is also possible to visit places like the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid, which was initially designed as a residence for an aristocratic family and which sets a good example of Madrid's palaces.
The list of buildings and spaces includes other proposals such as hotels, factories of different disciplines, headquarters of large business groups, private houses, foundations and cultural centers, classical buildings, meeting room and sports facilities.
We have also planned different specialized routes, like a route through workspaces and rehabilitated buildings. During the Open House's weekend, several architectural and interior design firms will organize special events around the festival.
Madrid is the second Spanish city joining this project, which already takes place in Barcelona since 2010. In recent editions in Barcelona about 50,000 people visited the different spaces.
Open House Madrid is run by.-
Paloma Gómez, architect specialized in cultural management and co-director of Open House Madrid. She has served as project director of the Consejo Superior de Arquitectos de España (COAM), director of the COAM's Contest Office, Chief of rehabilitation at EMVS, exhibitions coordinator for the Ministry of Development and coordinator of the 2002 Venice Biennale.
Pati Núñez, curator and communications and architecture adviser. Bachelor of Arts, Master in Communications Management and Master in Intelligence Analysis, she worked as Strategic Comunication Consultant for entities such as the City council of Barcelona, the Mies van der Rohe Foundation or the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España. Pati has been co-curator of the exhibition "Legacy of Coderch" and producer of films on art and architecture such as Hello Mrs. Hock, by Jordi Bernadó, or Remembering Coderch, by Poldo Pomés.
Among the members of the advisory committee of the festival are Professor Juan Herreros, the president of the Pritzker Prize jury Martha Thorne, and the architecture curator for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Pedro Gadanho.
Open House Madrid is organized by Culture Care Foundation, a non profit organization that aims to support and contribute to the transfer of knowledge in society and encourage an appreciation for the cultural proposals, the architectural excellence and quality design while aiming to connect local proposals with the international context.
Where.- Madrid, Spain.
When.- September 26th and 27th, 2015.
