The Mallorcan architect Eduard Yuste is at the forefront of the Open House Palma architecture festival for non-architects. The Balearic capital will host for the first time this initiative that aims to open wide the buildings with the greatest architectural interest in the city. It will be the weekend of November 6 and 7, 2021.

Eduard Yuste, Open House Palma

Eduard Yuste. Photos: Open House Palma.

– Why Palma to celebrate this initiative?

– When I was studying architecture in Barcelona, ​​I participated as a volunteer at the Open House Barcelona and then I joined the organization. I always thought that this festival had to be brought to Palma because there is a lot of unknown architectural heritage and a lot of architecture that people don’t know about. We started working on the project fully two years ago. It was delayed by the pandemic and now it is finally a reality.

– Where can you find the architectural interest of Palma?

– In Palma we are very focused on the historic center, where the cathedral and fish market are located, which everyone knows. But there are a lot of architecture by very good architects who are completely unknown. The architectural interest of the city is distributed throughout all the neighborhoods. In all of them there is a building by Bennàssar, Ferragut, Mitjans or other architects. We even have a Pritzker Prize, like the Moneo’s Miró Foundation building, which is like the Nobel Prize for architecture, and many people don’t know where it is. There is a lot of architectural interest from outside Mallorca and it is unknown here.

– The Open House Palma pursues that objective…

– The intention is to disseminate the architecture of Palma, hence the slogan of the architecture festival for non-architects. It’s about people getting to know the best examples of architecture and design in the city. If you have the tools to decide what is good and what is bad, you can demand a better built environment, a better city, and consequently a better society.

– Could this heritage be exploited on a tourist level?

– Our intention is totally away from the tourist field. It’s more local, for people from here. We do not have guides in other languages, we believe that first it is necessary for the locals to know what we have in order, in any case, to later make it known. The architectural heritage is another asset and it is well known. But many end up being exploited by the tourist market, such as the Sagrada Familia or Casa Batlló. People feel detached from these buildings because there are too many tourists. It’s okay at some point, but don’t go overboard either…

Presentación Open House Palma

Open House Palma presentation for media.

– Is architecture popular enough or is it only for professionals?

– Architecture is art and culture. In all civilizations it has been a mean of expression and each style responds to a movement. I think this is not sufficiently explained in formal education. It seems like a very exclusive area and what the festival aims to do is just the opposite. It tries to explain the most interesting styles and brushstrokes of each building, as well as its history. Making them known is a way for citizens to acquire this knowledge and feel a little respect for architecture. The truth is that much disclosure is lacking in this field.

– Have you visited all the buildings that will be open to the public? Which ones do you recommend?

– I admit that I have not visited all of them, but if I had to make a list I would start with the IBAVI social housing, very interesting in terms of social and environmental aspects, which is now a revolution in the world of architecture at the Spanish and European level. He would continue with unknown works of rationalism such as Hotel Araxa or Palma Tennis, as well as Can Cladera. We also have some bomb shelters, which are an unknown part of the history of the city, such as the Royal Palace, the Center for Military and Cultural History of the Balearic Islands… There are many examples!

– Are there any that have been left out of the selection and that you would have liked to include in this festival?

– A lot. One of my goals was to open the Gesa building, but no luck. Also modernist buildings such as the El Águila and Can Forteza Rey stores, Can Casasayas… There are many that have been left out. The old Can Ribas or Gorilla Shoes factory… If the festival is successful this year, perhaps more buildings will be added in future editions.

– Besides Palma, what other buildings have special architectural interest on the island?

– There are other Pritzker Prize buildings. One is the Can Lis house by Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House. There are also very leading offices’ buildings such as TEd’A, OLARQ…

– Which other projects does the Open House Palma association have in mind?

– The objective of the association is to hold this event. We are five people who develop this work without being paid. Yes, we would like the festival to have continuity in time. Besides, there will be a photography contest and an exhibition next January at the College of Architects. For now, they will be very specific things.