If walls could talk, Open House festivals would be their open mic nights. Last year, I had the incredible chance to cross borders and stories by joining the Open House Volunteer Exchange. My destination? Tallinn, Estonia – a city that had long fascinated me, was finally within reach enough to explore its architectural soul.

One place that captured this spirit of connection was Park Tondi, located in a small sub-district with roots going back to the 18th century, when Dunten Manor first stood there. Over the years, the area transformed dramatically, from a manor house’s grounds, to a military naval base under various regimes. By the early 1990s, as Estonia regained its independence, the area was mostly abandoned, with buildings falling into ruin.

But Tallinn had other plans for Tondi. In 2009, the city began a major revitalisation, and by 2024, the transformation was complete. The site now blends seven historic and modern buildings across 30,000 square meters, housing everything from schools and offices, to gyms, hotels, and public green spaces. What once felt derelict now brims with life, a true testament to Tallinn’s commitment to breathing new life into its architectural heritage while embracing a vibrant future.

The Open House experience also introduced me to another side of Tallinn: the second lives of industrial buildings repurposed across the city. Our accommodation was at Hektor, a shipping container hotel located in a former train depot. Open House Tallinn’s headquarters, Kultuurikatel (Tallinn Creative Hub), is housed in the former Tallinn City Electric Central Station, which operated from 1913 to 1978. Today, this industrial relic is alive with events, workshops, and performances, thanks to the Creative Hub, a non-profit foundation. These transformations deeply resonated with me, as they demonstrate the potential of Dublin’s own creative regeneration and the way our cities build connections through adaptive reuse.

I also had the chance to meet fellow Open House volunteers from across Europe, from cities such as Essen, Vilnius, and Brno, to name but a few. Sharing insights and experiences from our festivals was invaluable; it broadened my view on how festivals and community engagement can showcase the shared challenges and triumphs of urban development. We discovered how, regardless of location, each Open House city embraces both its history and its future, proving that architecture is not only about buildings but about the stories and communities that inhabit them.

Being part of Open House Tallinn was more than just exploring buildings; it was about experiencing how spaces define, reflect, and shape a city’s character. Returning to Dublin with these fresh perspectives has left me more inspired than ever, excited to see how our own city will continue to evolve.