Ceremonial Programme Highlights
Every major event deserves an official beginning and end, and so we warmly invite you to both the Official Opening of the Festival, which will take place at the Office of the City Architect on Saturday, 17 May 2025 at 9:00, and to the Ceremonial Closing of the Festival in the form of a gala concert by the Brno Contemporary Orchestra on Sunday, 18 May 2025 at 17:00 inside the Alfa Passage. This celebratory concert will symbolically connect the various functions and meanings of the Alfa Passage in honour of the 130th anniversary of the birth of prominent Brno architect Bohuslav Fuchs. Join us on a musical journey from Fuchs’s vision of a modern public space to Hrdina’s concept combining cinema, social and luxury housing, and the ambitions of Brno’s first skyscraper. Entry to the concert is free and no registration is required — a symbolic revival of a passage originally designed to be open to all.
Intergenerational Tours
As always, you will be guided through the tours by local volunteers and experts in the field of architecture. This year, however, you’ll also find pupils acting as guides at selected locations. For example, Year 9 students from Tyršova Primary School Kuldova will lead tours of their school. You’ll also encounter students at the Secondary Technical and Higher Vocational School Brno Sokolská, the Chemical Lyceum on Pionýrská, and the Faculty of Education.
At two locations, we’ll offer insights from those with lived experience. During the CTP Ponávka tour, you’ll meet a former employee who shares her memories of the place. And during Saturday and Sunday themed tours of the Brno Exhibition Centre - A living lab — our long-time volunteer Jiří Rousek, who worked there for 30 years, will share his insights alongside commentary by architect Lenka Štěpánková.
There's certainly plenty to choose from!
Visual Stories
Once again, Open House Europe — a network of European cities hosting festivals in this format — is organising the Visual Stories competition. Its aim is to enhance the festival experience, including visits to locations and accompanying events. Last year, the focus was on inclusion and accessibility in architecture across participating cities. You can view the results of the competition at the Visual Stories 2024 exhibition in the Office of the City Architect Gallery from 6 May to 30 May 2025.
This year’s Visual Stories 2025 competition theme is Future Heritage, which you are encouraged to interpret during the festival itself and enter into the international visitor competition. We invite you to share your take on the theme through any artistic visual medium of your choice!
And this year, we truly are thinking of everyone… The competition is open to children and young people of all ages, from nursery to secondary school, in a dedicated section:
Visual Stories 2025 for Kids! Visual Stories of Open House Brno 2025 through children's eyes:
We’re curious to see what Future Heritage means to you! Join in and share your perspective. How? Try telling a story in comic form — it could be about an architect, a resident, or even a building itself! Don’t be afraid to use other visuals too. A collage can be just as powerful. A great photo from the festival can also say a lot. Prefer making videos or short reels? We’re excited to see those as well. Don’t hesitate to send us your creations and share your interpretation of the theme in whatever artistic form you enjoy most. Who knows — your artwork might even end up in the exhibition!
Workshops
This year’s selection of educational leisure activities caters to both children and adults:
Become the Architect of Nová Zbrojovka! – Saturday, 17 May from 13:00–17:00 at the Nová Zbrojovka complex
An art workshop for families with children focusing on architecture. Children will have the chance to play with construction materials and bring their ideas to life on a map of the complex. At a nearby station, they can model and create their own building to either install on-site or take home. Together, we will build a collective vision of what the area could become.
Led by educator Jana Ovčáčková. This event is part of Picnic Festival Brno 2025.
Sketching Workshop with Zdeněk Daniel – Sunday, 18 May from 10:00–12:00 at Villa Wittal
In an age where we capture most moments on our phones, why not try drawing a memory instead? This architectural sketching workshop will take place at the newly opened Villa Wittal and will be led by architect and designer Zdeněk Daniel, who also teaches art courses at the D.R.A.K. civic association. Participants will draw the historic 1932 villa, originally home to the Jewish Wittal family. We’ll draw outdoors, but in case of bad weather, we’ll move inside the villa, which holds many architectural treasures.
Open to all ages. Workshop capacity: 20 participants.
Architecture in Words – Sunday, 18 May from 14:30–16:00, meeting in Tržnice on Zelný trh
Struggling to find the right words when describing architecture and space? Or perhaps confused by the technical jargon used by tour guides and architecture books? Then this workshop is for you. Art historian Šárka Bahounková will introduce you to basic terminology and methods for describing architecture during a walk through the historical city centre. No prior knowledge or special interest in architecture is needed — but if you do have a budding passion, you know that practice makes perfect. Together, we’ll go over technical terms, identify typical features of various architectural styles, and practice describing historical buildings. Participants will receive a short glossary of terms to take home for future reference.
Open to adults and youth aged 12 and over. Workshop capacity: 20 people. The workshop will take place in all weather conditions (we’ll find a dry spot if needed).
Resounding Locations
During the festival weekend, enjoy two musical performances by the Diversa Quartet, whose string arrangements offer a unique acoustic experience as part of Open House Brno. On Sunday, 18 May 2025, their first concert will begin at 12:00 at Villa Wittal — where minimalist elegance meets historical significance and modern musical expression. The second performance follows at 13:30 in the industrial setting of the former Distillery — a place where music takes on new dimensions and history lingers with a scent of herbs. Take a break between tours and let yourself be swept away by music in these extraordinary urban backdrops!