Open House Basel

What Open House Basel does

Open House Basel is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein Open House Basel – Architektur für alle) founded in May 2018 by architect Esther Baur. The organization operates a single core product: an annual free architecture festival held over one weekend in May (May 9-10, 2026; May 29-30, 2027), during which 116 buildings across the trinational Basel region — including ateliers, residential buildings, educational and research facilities, monuments, churches, offices, and cultural venues — open their doors to the public for guided tours. The 2026 edition attracted over 32,000 building visits, the first year exceeding the 30,000 threshold, supported by 294 volunteers and 202 architects, specialists, building partners, and cooperation partners.

The underlying platform is a content-and-event website (openhouse-basel.org) providing a searchable building catalog with map functionality, a user registration system with a "My Tour" personalization feature for saved favorite buildings across devices, and an Eventbrite-integrated reservation system for capacity-limited guided tours. Supplementary products include the Liveticker for real-time weekend updates, Open House Kids for children's workshops and drawing competitions, PLUS+ for year-round supplementary events, an online program of digital building tours, and a volunteer management workflow. Technology integrations are limited to Eventbrite, Mailchimp, and Google Maps API; there is no AI/ML component, proprietary model, or public API/SDK offering.

The business model is donation-and-grant funded with no ticket revenue. Funding streams comprise tiered individual Freunde contributions (S/M/L/XL), corporate partnerships and Gönner sponsorships (including Vectorworks, Laufen, Bryum, Delta Light, SIA Basel, and Heimatschutz Basel), and public cultural funding from Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK), Swisslos Basel-Landschaft, BLKB Stiftung, Mobiliar, UBS Kulturstiftung, SKKG, Christoph Merian Stiftung, GGG Basel, and municipalities such as Allschwil and Muttenz. Distribution is free and direct-to-consumer via building access and the self-serve website portal, with corporate partnership visibility serving as the indirect monetization channel. The organization is a member of Open House Worldwide (55+ cities) and founded the national umbrella Open House Schweiz in October 2025, with Esther Baur as president.

Name

Open House Basel

Legal name

Verein Open House Basel

Website

https://openhouse-basel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Open House Basel is a Swiss non-profit association that runs an annual free architecture festival in the trinational Basel region, opening 100+ buildings to the public each May and attracting over 32,000 building visits in 2026, funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and public cultural grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Festival / Cultural Events

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Architecture festival
• Public building access
• Cultural event management
• Architectural education programs
• Community open days

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Support Contributions: Individual supporters (Freunde/Friends) contribute financially with tiered categories (S, M, L, XL) receiving various benefits including exclusive tours, invitations to events, and merchandise. Tax-deductible donations for Swiss residents for contributions over 100 CHF.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Companies become partners, main partners, or donors (Gönner) with customized partnership packages. Partners receive visibility to the event's audience and architectural community through logo placement, documentation, and exclusive access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Open House Basel organizes a free annual weekend architecture festival during which more than 100 buildings across the trinational Basel region (ateliers, residential homes, educational and research facilities, monuments, churches, offices, and cultural buildings) open their doors for guided public tours led by architects and specialists. The festival is supplemented by a PLUS+ framework program of additional events, tours, talks, and exhibitions, an Open House Kids educational program for children and families, and a year-round Online Program of digital building tours. All events are free to visitors and supported by donations, corporate partnerships, and public funding.

Product overview

Open House Basel is an annual nonprofit architecture festival that operates as a single, unified event platform. The core offering is the Open House Basel weekend event (May 9-10 annually), during which approximately 100+ buildings open their doors for free public visits. The platform provides building discovery through an online catalog with map functionality, user registration for personalized tours with favorites/saved buildings, and reservation capabilities for limited-capacity tours via Eventbrite integration. Additional programs include Open House Kids (family activities and workshops), PLUS+ (supplementary events, tours, and exhibitions), and an Online Program with digital building tours. The platform also supports volunteer coordination for event operations. There is no product API or SDK offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open House Basel Annual Festival Annual free weekend architecture festival that opens buildings (ateliers, residential homes, educational/research facilities, monuments, churches, offices, and cultural buildings) across the trinational Basel region for guided public tours led by architects and specialists. Targeted at the general public, architecture enthusiasts, and families.
• PLUS+ Framework Program Year-round supplementary program of films, lectures, bike tours, exhibitions, and discussions that extends the main festival's content beyond the core weekend event. Targeted at architecture enthusiasts and the broader cultural audience.
• Open House Kids Educational program for children (especially ages 6-12) and families featuring workshops, drawing competitions, collection cards, and family-friendly guided building tours designed to make architecture accessible to young audiences. Targeted at families with school-age children.
• Online Program Digital platform featuring online building tours, live talks, and recorded content from architecture events worldwide, accessible to remote audiences beyond the Basel region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 32,000 building visits in 2026 (first year exceeding 30,000)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered partner, core, förderstelle, stiftung and gönner.

• Vectorworks (via Computerworks)partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Technology partner providing Vectorworks software sponsorship. Listed as a main partner in the partner section with logo display on website.
• LaufenpartnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Sanitaryware brand sponsoring OHB as a main partner. Logo displayed in partner section.
• BryumpartnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Landscape architecture firm partnering with OHB. Also involved in Nachbarsgärten Basel initiative.
• Delta LightpartnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Lighting manufacturer sponsoring OHB as a main partner with logo placement.
• SIA BaselpartnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Swiss Engineers and Architects Association, Basel section. Professional association partnership supporting OHB.
• S AM Schweizerisches ArchitekturmuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Swiss Architecture Museum is a key cooperation partner. Joint programs include 'Perspektivenwechsel' educational projects and 'Kunst & Architektur' initiatives. Hosts OHB-related exhibitions and events.
• Christoph Merian Stiftung (CMS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Major foundation supporting Basel cultural initiatives. CMS hosts multiple OHB buildings and is building owner. Co-developer of 'Stadtfragen' kids education program.
• FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz)partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. Multiple faculties (HGK, FHNW HABG) are cooperation partners with OHB.
• Drumrum RaumschulepartnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Spatial education specialists and Open House Kids partners. Develops and delivers architectural education workshops for children.
• Stiftung WegweiserpartnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Foundation partner for Open House Kids programming, providing educational content for children.
• Open House WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026International network of Open House cities (55+ cities). OHB is a member and participates in global events, online content sharing, and cross-city programming.
• Visarte Region BaselpartnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Professional association of visual artists. Joint initiative 'Kunst & Architektur - ein Duett?' exploring art in public space.
• Heimatschutz BaselpartnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Heritage conservation organization cooperating with OHB as a cultural partner.
• Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK)förderstelleGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Federal cultural office providing funding support as a public funding body.
• Swisslos Basel-LandschaftförderstelleGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Cantonal lottery fund providing public funding support for cultural events.
• BLKB Stiftung (Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank)stiftungGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Cantonal bank foundation providing cultural funding support for OHB.
• MobiliarförderstelleGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Swiss insurance company supporting OHB through cultural foundation funding.
• UBS KulturstiftungstiftungGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026UBS Culture Foundation providing funding support for OHB cultural programming.
• SKKG (Stiftung Kunstkredit Basel-Stadt)stiftungGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Art credit foundation supporting visual arts and cultural projects in Basel-Stadt.
• Gemeinde AllschwilgönnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Municipality supporting OHB as a corporate donor.
• Gemeinde MuttenzgönnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026Municipality supporting OHB as a corporate donor.
• Herzog & de MeurongönnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2026World-renowned Basel architecture firm listed as a donor (Gönner) supporting OHB.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/openhousebasel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDudgWCBouNVYQJv9GMtmWw
• Facebookfacebook.com/openhousebasel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/open-house-basel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Open House Basel