OpenBuildings, an online archive of buildings for architecture, has launched a redeveloped website after securing $2 million (£1.2 million) in a Series A funding round.
OpenBuildings, an online archive of buildings for architecture, has launched a redeveloped website after securing $2 million (£1.2 million) in a Series A funding round.
BlueRun Ventures and Index Ventures co-lead the investment in the business, which is based in London, UK, and Sofia, Bulgaria.
The funding coincides with the launch of a new version of the website, which features updated information and content. In addition, the business plans to improve existing technology across both web and mobile products, and increase headcount.
Founded early last year by university students Adel Zakout and Tom Mallory, OpenBuildings allows users to learn about world architecture. Any registered user can share their knowledge by finding and submitting building information, uploading media and opinions about historic, contemporary or conceptual buildings.
The site currently has 50,000 registered users and holds data on more than 40,000 buildings from across the globe. OpenBuildings has a linked smartphone application, Buildings, which has attracted 250,000 downloads.
Zakout, chief executive of OpenBuildings, comments, ‘OpenBuildings aims to promote the sharing of architectural knowledge and gives a platform for discourse between professionals and the general public.’
Chief operating officer Mallory adds, ‘Learning about architecture was a frustrating experience – there was simply no single destination online for research. The lack of information and discussion about such an elemental thing in life, the built environment, has always confused me – surely something that is so important to our quality of life should be open and accessible instead of being decided behind closed doors.’
