Open House Tallinn 2025 has revealed the first glimpse of this year’s programme: ten buildings will be open to the public during the architecture festival taking place on October 11–12. The selection includes several beloved architectural gems from previous years. This year’s theme focuses on the future heritage – exploring how today’s buildings shape the urban landscape of tomorrow.
The Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre Tallinn, which last participated in Open House Tallinn in 2020, is once again welcoming visitors. Located at Piiskopi 2, the complex dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and was built on the foundations of medieval buildings destroyed in the great Toompea fire of 1684. In the 19th century, a neoclassical wing was added to the complex, which now houses the Hungarian Cultural Centre.
Põhjala Factory, which featured in the 2023 programme, will also be open again. Located on the site of the former Bekker Shipyard, the area became home to several businesses after Estonia gained independence. Among the most prominent was the Põhjala Rubber Factory, established in 1924 and successful even during the Soviet era. Today, the revitalised factory complex houses more than 100 creative enterprises – including a bar, bakery, bookstore, restaurants, and cafés. Visitors can enjoy urban greenery in the rooftop and community gardens, explore art exhibitions, and shop in local studios. Põhjala has grown into a vibrant cultural and community hub, hosting a variety of events and festivals.
Open House Tallinn producer Aleksander Tali also highlighted other locations in this year’s programme:
“Returning to the programme are the Ülemiste Water Treatment Plant, Kadriorg Park Orangery, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bank of Estonia, Mustamäe State High School, Roosikrantsi Residence, the Joint Ministry Building, as well as the Hundipea district and Paljassaare harbour. We’re always delighted to reopen spaces that are usually off-limits to the public – guided tours during the festival give people a rare opportunity to discover them.”
Open House Tallinn 2025 will take place on October 11–12. All tours are free of charge, and most do not require prior registration unless otherwise noted. Information on tours requiring registration will be published in August, and sign-ups will open in early September via Fienta. For the latest updates, follow Open House Tallinn on social media.
The festival is organised by the Estonian Centre for Architecture. Supporters include the Estonian Cultural Endowment, City of Tallinn, Hepsor, Laufen, Rockwool, and Kingivabrik. Open House Tallinn is part of the Open House Europe collaborative project, co-funded by the European Union.
Open House is a global initiative aimed at introducing the public to architecture and urban space through direct access to buildings and sites. The programme runs in more than 60 cities worldwide, including London, Helsinki, Barcelona, Miami, Melbourne, Lagos, and Vilnius.
