Many buildings pique the curiosity of passersby about what lies behind their doors. Instead of merely imagining the uses and privacy of these typically inaccessible spaces, next weekend—June 29 and 30—visitors will be able to explore the interiors of various architectural works in the cities of Porto, Matosinhos, and Gaia during the Open House Porto festival.
The curators of the 2019 edition, Joana Couceiro and Nuno Valentim, note that "this powerful concept—Open House—which opens up interiors and private spaces to the public, remains a paradox. It implies a certain inversion of the character and purpose of most spaces, which, even if temporarily, see their programming transformed into a 'museum object' displayed to a broad public. What is proposed this year is an awareness of this phenomenon; in other words, in a literal reading of the event, the house (or the city) reveals itself beyond the threshold, and on the other side, there is much more than an inaccessible space or a unique architectural object; on the other side, there is life inside."
Titled 'Vida Interior' (Interior Life), the event will unveil a series of architectural works that allow for a new encounter with the city, its uses, and its inhabitants. As well as being able to enter various works by the most renowned Portuguese architects, such as Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura, visitors will also be able to explore the interiors of buildings ranging from the 16th century to recently award-winning projects, such as Luís Pedro Silva's Leixões Cruise Terminal.
Check the full list of projects featured in the Open House Porto selection here.
For more information, visit the official website.
This article was written by Victor Delaqua. The translation is powered by AI.
