In June we officially launched O Apartamento with the Spanish magazine OPENHOUSE – The Life We share. A project from Barcelona that looks for bright, creative people from around the world, that opens their homes or their private spaces to the public. With a photo exhibition by Mari Luz Vidal and a sushi dinner by chef Nobu, this was a really special visit for all of us. Andrew Trotter, co-founder of this project, told us how everything has begun and what they have achieved and shared during the last three years.

What does the term “open house” atually means to you?

Our magazine is called OPENHOUSE – The life we share, and it is exactly that. It’s about people who want to give a little, rather than just ‘get’.

I come from a travelling family, and we have spent many years in other countries. Some places, such as Italy or Australia love to have their doors open, everyone is welcome for dinner or to stay, even the idea of the ‘agroturismo’ in Italy, is that you stay at someone’s rural house, help around, and cook together. This is sharing and this is ENJOYING life.

Why did you choose to make this kind of magazine?

The magazine came very organically, it just seemed the right thing to do at the time. When I moved to Barcelona four and a half years ago, I moved in with a friend of mine Mari Luz. For the first year we lived in her flat, which was very small, and at the same time I started a shop called Openhouse, which I wanted to feel like a home.

After a year, Mari wanted to move home and she found a huge apartment with high ceilings and a lot of light. She had told me already that she wanted to put her last work on the walls and invite a few friends around. When we saw the new flat, we realized it would make a perfect place to have a proper exhibition, so a few months later Mari showed “Mariona and I” with great success, and the OPENHOUSE Project was born. Shortly after and friend of ours, Nobu, a japanese chef, came to live with us, and it wasn’t long till we were making dinners, sushi parties, concerts and talks.

What happened since then?

After 3 years we had many events, 6 exhibitions and over 4000 people through our doors. A little while after we started, we set up a web, and also talked about a few friends that I knew that also had similar projects in other cities, and we kept on hearing about other people doing the same. So a year and a half ago, we decided to put it down on paper, and make the magazine. Now we are on issue #3 and in more than 350 shops around the world.

Nowadays, which are the projects that the OPENHOUSE is developing and that is involved?

At the moment we are concentrating on the magazine. It is growing so quickly that we will need to nurture it. We also love making events. We had a great time with you in Lisboa and lately we have been in London with Aesop, Frankfurt with PrivateOffSpace and Berlin with Freunde Von Freunden and Bless.

Which were your first impressions about our house?

You guys are very lucky, you have a beautiful space to work in. I’m surprised you get work done… it feels like such a beautiful home, I think I would want to relax most of the time. We had great event with you at O Apartamento, the people who joined us were amazing and you treated us so well. I hope we can come back soon!!!