Three UB buildings open their doors this weekend for the 48h Open House BCN
Whatʼs behind the facades of our cities? The answer to this question can be found in the 48h Open House BCN, the architecture festival the Open House Barcelona Association has been organizing for nine years. This year, the dates will be October 27 and 28. During these two days, more than two-hundred buildings and infrastructures in Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Vilassar de Dalt, Sant Joan Despí, Badalona and Hospitalet de Llobregat are opening their doors. These are buildings from all districts, from all periods and kinds, which are usually closed to the public or have limited access, and which can now be visited by all people for free. Once again, the University of Barcelona is taking part in the 48h Open House, with three buildings: the Pavilion of the Spanish Republic and Palau de les Heures in Barcelona, and Torre de la Creu, in Sant Joan Despí.
Whatʼs behind the facades of our cities? The answer to this question can be found in the 48h Open House BCN, the architecture festival the Open House Barcelona Association has been organizing for nine years. This year, the dates will be October 27 and 28. During these two days, more than two-hundred buildings and infrastructures in Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Vilassar de Dalt, Sant Joan Despí, Badalona and Hospitalet de Llobregat are opening their doors. These are buildings from all districts, from all periods and kinds, which are usually closed to the public or have limited access, and which can now be visited by all people for free. Once again, the University of Barcelona is taking part in the 48h Open House, with three buildings: the Pavilion of the Spanish Republic and Palau de les Heures in Barcelona, and Torre de la Creu, in Sant Joan Despí.
Barcelona
The Pavilion of the Spanish Republic (avinguda del Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer, 34-36) will open its doors both days: there will be guided tours on Saturday 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sunday 28, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. This building -current head office of the Center for International Historical Studies (CEHI) and the Pavelló de la República CRAI Library -an identical copy of the building built by the architects Josep Lluís Sert and Luis Lacasa to represent the Spanish Republic in the International Expo of Paris in 1937, in the middle of the Civil War. The place has a surprise for the visitors: the reproduction of the known Picassoʼs Gernika, which was exhibited in the original place.
On Sunday, Palau de les Heures (carrer de lʼHarmonia) will open its doors, in the UB Mundet Campus. The building, also known as casa Gallart, is one of the most unique places in Barcelona: it was built in late 19th century by the family Gallart and, during the last years of the Civil War, it was the secret residence of the President Lluís Companys. There will be guided tours over the day (from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.). During the tour, visitors can access the air-raid shelter built by the republican troops to protect President Companys.
Sant Joan Despí
During the weekend people can also visit Torre de la Creu (passeig de Canalies, 14), a modernist historical building, cultural property of national interest. This place, known as Torre dels Ous, was built by the architect Josep Maria Jujol, between 1913 and 1916 and is now one of the head offices of the Area of Complimentary Training of the UB. Guided tours will take place on Saturday afternoon, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.. There will be an urban itinerary around the important modernist heritage left in Sant Joan Despí by its local architect Josep Maria Jujol (1879-1949). This tour will take place on Saturday and Sunday, at 10 a.m. and 12 noon. The activity is free but registration is required, via openhouse@sjdespi.net.
48h Open House BCN, the city dates architecture
The Open House project was born in London in 1992 and since then, it grew in other cities with a rich architecture and design, such as New York, Dublin, Galway, Tel Aviv, and Barcelona. In 2017, the 48h Open House BCN received 65,013 visitors (about 5,000 more people than the previous year). With this ninth edition, this initiative aims to share and bring closer the excellence of great architecture, urbanism and design among citizens.
More information in 48h Open House BCN