From Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October will be held the new edition of Open House New York (OHNY), the initiative that every year opens to the public hundreds of places normally closed or hardly accessible. This year’s programme includes 341 sites in all five districts and more than 1,600 hours of activities including guided tours, self-guided tours and digital content.
Launched in 2003 with 84 participating places, Open House New York is today one of the most anticipated events in New York autumn. It is an opportunity to visit private spaces, historical buildings, infrastructure and artist studies that tell the material and cultural history of the city. The event is inspired by the model of Open House London, born in 1992, then replicated in over 50 cities worldwide.
According to the organizers, tens of thousands of visitors are expected this year. Kristin LaBuz, OHNY executive director, explained that the initiative involves about 1,400 volunteers, who accompany visitors “in their city corners”, turning for a New York weekend into a popular museum.
Among the most interesting destinations are the Yankee Ferry, the last ferry of Ellis Island still existing, and the Rockefeller Center, which will open to the public spaces usually reserved as Rainbow Room and Radio Park. The World Trade Center will also participate with access to plans 79 and 80, rarely visitable, while the MTA will offer a path behind the scenes of the city transport system.
There are many stages related to urban history and architectural heritage, such as the Woodlawn Cemetery, which will organise visits to the mausoleums of the American golden age, and numerous old buildings in the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Harlem and Queens.
A substantial part of the program is free and does not require reservations: more than 160 sites will be accessible freely. Others, on the other hand, need early registration, especially those with reduced spaces or with security controls. There are also a series of activities dedicated to families and available on the OHNY website.
Over the years, OHNY has also assumed an educational function, used by schools, universities and cultural associations to bring citizens closer to urban transformation processes. Many of the guided tours are conducted by architects, engineers and art historians who explain the design choices and transformations of the city fabric.
The initiative is supported by local foundations and institutions, including the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Municipal Art Society, and represents one of the most significant moments of city openness to the public.
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