Before Open House Tallinn kicked off, our volunteers Alan Paas and Helen Väljataga travelled to Spain to discover what makes Open House Bilbao special. Here’s what they shared about their experience.
How did you decide to take part in the Open House Bilbao festival?
Alan: I’ve been a volunteer at Open House Tallinn every single year since the festival began, and naturally, I became curious to see how Open House events are organized elsewhere. Last year, I completed a microdegree in urban planning, and Bilbao is often highlighted in literature as a great example of how an industrial city can be transformed into a pleasant urban environment.
Also, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is one of the most iconic works of contemporary architecture, and I had long wanted to see it in person. That combination made the decision an easy one.
Helen: I’ve been following other volunteers’ exchange experiences for several years and knew I wanted to take part myself one day. Bilbao was my first choice because of its fascinating culture, language, and history.
I was curious to see how a small nation operates within the influence of a larger and dominant culture — and how that dynamic is reflected in the Open House festival. And of course, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim is a must-see for any architecture lover! Add to that the stunning nature and rich gastronomy, and Bilbao feels almost exotic for us Northern Europeans.
How was the experience? What did you do there?
Alan: It was a wonderful experience — I got to see and understand both the city of Bilbao and how their Open House is organized. I volunteered at a building called B Accelerator Tower (BAT), which was originally constructed in 1969 as a bank office tower. It has since been completely renovated and now serves as an incubator for startups. My main task was to help manage the queue and stamp visitors’ festival maps once they had completed their visit.
I was most worried about my limited Spanish skills, but the local volunteers were extremely helpful, and we managed perfectly well together. With a friendly and open attitude, even a language barrier becomes much easier to overcome.
We were warmly welcomed and even went out to explore Bilbao’s famous pintxo bars with local volunteers. Together with other exchange volunteers, we visited the University of Deusto, where we were given an English-language tour, and the Palacio de Ibaigane, the historic headquarters of Athletic Club Bilbao — originally home to one of the city’s wealthiest families. I also had time to visit the Azkuna Zentroa cultural centre, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Maritime Museum on my own.
All in all, it was an incredible experience, and I highly encourage other Open House Tallinn volunteers to apply for the exchange.
Helen: The experience was absolutely amazing! It was fascinating to take part in Open House Bilbao both as a volunteer and as a visitor. I volunteered at Casa Aburto, an elegant early 20th-century apartment building that today houses the Biscay Bar Association.
My task was to stamp visitors’ maps at the end of the tour and assist with queue management. They had a lively system where visitors received different coloured stickers to form groups, and volunteers even had their own priority-coloured stickers to join tours. It sometimes got a little chaotic, but Spaniards are used to waiting in line, so there were no complaints — just smiles.
What stood out the most about the local festival?
Alan: The visitors’ dedication was impressive — some were willing to wait over an hour to join a tour, and yet everyone remained cheerful. The volunteers were highly motivated to make each visit as enjoyable as possible.
Another thing that stood out was their detailed system for organizing tour groups. Visitors were divided into colour-coded groups, and after each tour, they received a stamp in their festival booklet — earning points as they went. Unfortunately, I never found out whether the most active participants won any prizes!
The festival also had a central information point, where visitors could get help or information at any time — a great idea we could learn from.
Helen: We visited many fascinating buildings during the weekend. The only English-language tour was at the University of Deusto, which offered insights into both the city’s and Jesuit order’s history.
I also joined several Spanish-language tours — partly understanding them myself and partly thanks to my fellow volunteers Ludovica from Rome and Margarita from Vilnius, who kindly translated for me.
Some of the highlights included:
Ibaigane Palace, now home to Athletic Bilbao football club
Arriaga Theatre, Bilbao’s equivalent of Estonia Theatre
The Public Library, which explored the influence of Franco’s regime
The Sociedad Filarmónica, a private concert hall showcasing the grandeur and cultural pride of the Basque elite
What impressed me most was how visible the festival was throughout the city — posters everywhere, and hundreds of volunteers! Some have been participating for nine years in a row. The guides worked almost non-stop; as soon as one group finished, the next began, meaning some did up to 15 tours in a single day!
Most volunteers worked only one day so they could spend the other day exploring the festival themselves.
You can still take part in the Visual Stories activity — see more information.
