The festival opens doors that are usually closed and sparks conversations about architecture, the city and how spaces are inhabited — as well as how they transform us. This year, the 48H Open House BCN festival invites visitors to consider architecture through their senses and sensations, looking beyond design and appearance to discover the impact a place can have on us.

With the motto “Feel the Architecture”, the festival — which is free, with most spaces open without prior booking — offers visits to 199 buildings in the metropolitan area, 136 of which are in Barcelona, including 57 that have never before been featured in the programme.

From Roman ruins to contemporary architecture, as well as notable examples of Catalan Gothic, neoclassicism and modernism, the festival invites visitors to explore the city’s heritage. This year’s highlights include the new Centre de Serveis Socials Sagrada Família, located in the former Myrurgia factory block; the comprehensive renovation of Edifici Estel; the Palau del Marquès de Alfarràs in Parc del Laberint d’Horta; and Torre Diagonal One at the Fòrum.

For those who are undecided, the festival’s recommendation tool suggests the three buildings best suited to each visitor, based on their answers to five questions.