A POP-UP concert in an Edwardian bathhouse and a chapati-making workshop in Scotland’s largest purpose-built Gurdwara are being held to celebrate Glasgow’s Doors Open Days Festival, which begins today.

Until Sunday, doors in the city will be flung open so that visitors can go behind the scenes at some of its iconic historic buildings as well as the city’s working factories, breweries and theatres.

Now in its 28th year, the festival features 116 open buildings, 50 walks and many special events including a series of pop-up concerts by the Scottish Ensemble.

Additional events bringing venues to life include two exhibitions commissioned by the festival. Emerging artists Nima Séne and Joanne Dawson are creating artworks in response to Pollok House and Holmwood House, their histories and archives, which will be exhibited in the buildings during the week. Other events include rowing taster sessions at the West Boathouse on Glasgow Green and a silent movie screening with live music accompaniment at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall.

The pop-up hub for the festival is at St Andrews in the Square, an A-listed, 18th-century former church. A packed programme of talks will take audiences on a whistle-stop tour across Glasgow’s history, heritage and archaeology.

Topics will include the origins of place names, a look at the city’s prehistoric past and the city’s HERstory, and there will also be an illustrated talk from Lost Glasgow, and a design market on Saturday selling locally crafted products.

St Andrew’s in the Square in Glasgow’s east end dates from 1754 and is widely regarded as one of the finest classical churches in Britain. It was designed by the architect Allan Dreghorn, based on James Gibbs’ famous St Martins-in-the-Fields in London and built by the master mason Mungo Naismith. It was the city’s first new church to be built since the Reformation. Today, the building is a performance and event venue.

The festival will also see a dedicated children’s programme featuring more than 50 free events and activities for young ones of all ages across the city.

These will include arts and crafts and dress-up, rocket-making, rowing taster sessions, quizzes and games focusing on Glasgow’s buildings and the city’s history and heritage.

“I’m delighted that our 2017 programme not only features over 100 buildings that will welcome in the public, but many programmed events including some fantastic lunchtime and evening talks at our festival hub, exhibitions and concerts,” said Molly Mae Whawell, events and development coordinator at Glasgow Building Preservation Trust.

“Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival is not only an opportunity for international visitors and for those from surrounding areas, but for Glaswegians to re-encounter the city, to get into buildings they walk past every day, and to reconnect to the story of Glasgow.”

Glasgow Doors Open Days is part of the programme for the Festival of Architecture 2017.

“I’d urge everyone to get out and about and explore Glasgow’s fantastic architecture and built heritage and enjoy discovering hidden gems as well as old favourites,” said added Karen Cunningham, director of the Festival of Architecture.

Doors Open Days is coordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust. It runs throughout Scotland every September as part of European Heritage Days. For more information see doorsopendays.org.uk.

Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival is coordinated locally by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust. For more information see www.glasgowdoorsopendaysfestival.com.