Open House Tallinn volunteers Elis Themas and Anneliie Talve visited Open House Stockholm in early October. Here are their impressions of the event and thoughts on why being a volunteer is worth it.
Why did you decide to volunteer at an Open House abroad?
Elis Themas: I decided to volunteer for Open House abroad to explore the architecture and culture of a new country. I chose Stockholm because, although I had been to Sweden before, it was mostly for short trips without focusing on the architecture. The Open House program provided an opportunity to get a better insight into the local buildings and culture.
Anneliie Talve: After experiencing Open House in Tallinn, I felt a desire to participate abroad as well. I wanted to see how it is organized there and what is different or similar. By attending Open House Stockholm, I got to explore places I probably wouldn’t have visited otherwise. Additionally, I love interacting with people from different cultures, and volunteering abroad gave me a great chance to do that.
What were your impressions and at which buildings were you volunteering?
Elis: My impressions are very positive. We were warmly welcomed by the organizers who had planned our schedule and guided and supported us throughout. We got the chance to both volunteer and join a few tours, and also explore the city and get acquainted with local life. As volunteers, we worked at two locations: Järva Cemetery and Nature Area and Norra Latin (Stockholm International School). I was at Norra Latin, where our tasks were to guide people to the right spots, provide information, and ensure the tours didn’t get too crowded. One unique aspect of Open House in Sweden is that the guides are professionals personally connected to the building—for example, our tour was led by the school’s marketing director, who had played a key role in bringing the international school to this building. We also got to join an English-language tour, learning about the building’s history. It was originally built in 1880 as a school, sold in the 1980s, and reopened in 1989 as a conference center. Since 2023, it has once again been used as a school, currently home to around 500 students from 60 different countries, aged 3 to 19.
On Saturday, after our volunteer duties, we also got to visit three Open House locations on Sunday: ArkDes (the architecture museum), Mötesplats Mariatorget Church, and Kapsylen. The most interesting for me was Kapsylen, a communal building housing around 70 different groups or artists—architects, designers, theater groups, videographers, a kindergarten, café, and rock club, all run democratically with hands-on involvement through weekly meetings.
Anneliie: Open House Stockholm was amazing. Having visited Sweden many times before, OH Stockholm gave me a completely new perspective on the city. We also had two local volunteers accompanying us, and it was interesting to talk about the similarities and differences between Estonia and Sweden. I volunteered at Järva Cemetery and Park, which had just recently opened. It was a fascinating experience to see a newly planned cemetery where no one has been buried yet and to learn about the various aspects they had to consider during construction. The cemetery is also located in a historically and socially significant area.
Why would you recommend volunteering for Open House Tallinn? How has it impacted your life?
Elis: I recommend volunteering for Open House Tallinn because, first of all, it gives you a chance to meet new people and make new contacts. Secondly, you get to try activities you might not do every day—like guiding, photographing, or assisting at a site. Lastly, it offers an opportunity to visit buildings you might not usually see and gain a fresh perspective by learning about their history and background.
Anneliie: I think everyone should volunteer for Open House Tallinn at least once. It’s a great way to get closer to the architecture and history of our capital, and often, you end up seeing the cityscape differently afterward. It’s also a joy to meet new people and bring happiness to visitors, whether by giving tours or assisting guides.
Last year was my first experience with OH, and it was very valuable. I discovered a love for guiding. It was a joy to hear positive feedback and thoughts after the tours. Additionally, thanks to this experience, I got to volunteer in Stockholm, where I wouldn’t have otherwise gone. It was also great to meet another volunteer, Elis, who also visited Stockholm.
Open House Tallinn is part of the Open House Europe cooperation project, co-funded by the European Union.
