Beginner’s Guide to OH! San Diego 2020

With 93 participating sites in nine neighborhoods and three days to see it all,  planning for OH! San Diego 2020 can seem daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re brand new to Open House or a seasoned pro, our guide to the city’s largest architectural showcase breaks it down for you with four top tips. So you can focus on the important thing —having fun.

Keep It Simple.  It’s true that OH! San Diego has a lot in store. But you don’t have to see it all. With about 10 featured sites in each neighborhood, we recommend exploring one neighborhood per day and taking it at your own pace. By choosing OH! neighborhoods that border each other, such as Bankers Hill and downtown, you’ll leave yourself room to explore more if time allows.

Plan Ahead.  Each participating site is described and pictured on the OH! San Diego website. Planning your route before you go will make the event more manageable and more fun. Check out our digital map and guide to start planning now. Printed maps and guides will be available during OH! San Diego at neighborhood hubs, while supplies last. Whether you prefer experimental arts spaces like Site 58| Bread & Salt in Barrio Logan or cultured masterpieces like Site 74 | the Grande Colonial Hotel, knowing which sites you’d like to see before OH! weekend arrives will give you something to look forward to.

Use the Archimaps App. Available for Android or iOS,  Archimaps makes navigating OH! weekend easy. The app has two navigation modes: map and list. Map allows you to search sites by location and relate them to your own position. List shows buildings sorted by proximity, date or alphabetically. The route planner helps you find your way to the selected building. A favorites tool is also available, allowing you to save a selection of preferred sites.

Take a tour. Whether you prefer self-guided or guided tours, this is a unique way to see some of the best of the city’s design. Take a guided tour of the San Diego Convention Center, explore Petco Park or take a stroll your own way on a great selection of self-guided tours listed in the OH! guide. Coronado especially offers some unique self-guided tours, including at the Coronado Historical Association Museum, the Hotel del Coronado and the John D. Spreckels Center & Bowling Green. And that’s just the start.

For the full scoop on everything OH! related, check out sdarchitecture.org. Want to get involved in the program yourself? We still need volunteers! Email Carol Chin to see how you can help.

Featured photo by Oliver Asis