Open House Essen returns on the weekend of September 7 and 8, inviting architecture enthusiasts to explore the hidden gems of Essen's northern districts. The fourth edition of the festival, themed "Transformation in the Ruhr Area: Buildings. People. Dialogue," offers a unique opportunity to discover remarkable buildings and the stories behind them, many of which are typically off-limits to the public.
Ahead of the main weekend, a special discussion on September 3 will delve into the legacy of the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Emscherpark. This event, moderated by Marius Hanke, will feature prominent figures such as architect Peter Brdenk, Dr. Christina Anna Kloke from TU Dortmund, architect Christian Kohl, and Dr. Irene Wiese-von Ofen, the former city planning director of Essen. The panel will explore the lasting impact of the IBA on the Ruhr area and consider whether the region might benefit from a new IBA initiative.
Festival highlights include a visit to the Heilig Geist Church in Essen-Katernberg, now a striking example of adaptive reuse, and a tour of the Hövelstraße Creative Studios, which have been transformed from a former carpenter's workshop into vibrant spaces housing creative professionals. Additionally, an exclusive bus tour will take participants through Essen and Gelsenkirchen, showcasing key architecture and urban development projects from the IBA Emscherpark.
Running alongside these events, the exhibition of Visual Stories created by the visitors of Open House Europe festivals will be open from August 22 to September 8 at the Forum Kunst und Architektur. This international exhibition features visual narratives on architecture and sustainability from twelve European cities, offering a broader perspective on architectural transformation.
Open House Essen 2024 is more than just an exploration of buildings; it fosters a lively dialogue about the past, present, and future of the region. With expert-led tours and engaging discussions, the festival promises a weekend full of discovery and inspiration, welcoming everyone to join in the journey through the evolving landscapes of Essen.
Explore the full programme of the fourth edition of Open House Essen at openhouseessen.org.
Open House Essen, organised by Forum Kunst und Architektur, is part of the Open House Europe cooperation project, co-funded by the European Union. The project seeks to embrace a more inclusive debate about architecture and strengthen the role of architecture as a positive change-maker, addressing relevant social and environmental challenges. For more information about the project, visit openhouseeurope.org.
Title
Open House Essen 2024Type
Festival / BiennialWebsite
Organizers
From
September 07, 2024 10:00 AMUntil
September 08, 2024 08:00 PMVenue
Essen, GermanyAddress