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Nómada Estudio Urbano Transforms Kindergartens into Engaging Play Spaces

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Nómada Estudio Urbano, in partnership with Fundación FEMSA and Fundación Placemaking, has undertaken innovative projects to transform kindergarten environments in Mexicali and Tijuana. These initiatives breathe new life into neglected spaces, turning them into dynamic, child-centric areas. The designs ingeniously blend elements from the indigenous desert landscape, champion the repurposing of existing materials, and actively involve local communities. This holistic approach sees play not merely as recreation, but as a powerful catalyst for nurturing childhood development, enhancing social bonds, and cultivating a profound sense of identity and belonging among children and their communities.

Revitalizing Early Learning: A New Vision for Childhood Play

Transforming Educational Spaces: The LAPIS Initiative

In a pioneering collaboration, Nómada Estudio Urbano, alongside Fundación FEMSA and Fundación Placemaking, has spearheaded a transformative project within kindergartens in Mexicali and Tijuana. This initiative, known as LAPIS (Lugares Amigables para la Primera Infancia), focuses on converting underutilized educational environments into vibrant, child-centric zones. The core design principles are deeply rooted in the unique desert identity of the region, the innovative practice of adaptive reuse, and a strong emphasis on community participation. The underlying philosophy redefines playgrounds, positioning them as essential ecosystems that foster comprehensive childhood development, cultivate meaningful social interactions, and instill a strong sense of belonging within the community fabric.

Nómada Estudio Urbano's Vision for Community-Centric Design

For over a decade, Nómada Estudio Urbano has been at the forefront of exploring how public spaces across Northern Mexico can serve as dynamic platforms for engagement, creativity, and collective community life. Their work in desert landscapes has profoundly influenced an architectural approach that champions the utilization of existing resources, celebrates local cultural identity, and maximizes opportunities for communal use. This distinctive perspective was instrumental in shaping the LAPIS initiative, which is championed by Fundación FEMSA and Fundación Placemaking. This program is dedicated to forging child-friendly environments through innovative placemaking strategies, inclusive participatory processes, and design solutions that are highly responsive to their local contexts.

Playgrounds Reimagined: Fostering Learning and Community Engagement

The LAPIS initiative, implemented in various kindergarten settings across Mexicali and Tijuana, provides a compelling examination of how adaptive reuse, local cultural references, and collaborative design can collectively transform neglected areas into environments that simultaneously support learning and foster robust community engagement. These projects move beyond the traditional view of playgrounds as mere recreational facilities. Instead, they elevate play to a powerful instrument for strengthening the intrinsic connection between individuals and their physical surroundings. This approach ensures that playgrounds become integrated community assets, enriching the lives of children and the wider community alike.

Jardín Centenario: A Case Study in Adaptive Reuse and Playful Transformation

At Jardín Centenario in Mexicali, the project focused on rehabilitating a dilapidated pergola that had fallen into disuse. Rather than opting for demolition, the design team skillfully repaired and reinforced the existing structure. A vibrant new color palette was introduced, effectively transforming it into a dedicated play pavilion designed for early childhood activities. Sensory elements were strategically suspended beneath the pergola, encouraging dynamic movement, tactile engagement, and imaginative exploration. Wooden balance circuits were integrated to promote physical activity, while swings crafted from recycled tires showcased the principles of adaptive reuse. This intervention demonstrates how even minor modifications to existing infrastructure can profoundly redefine a space's purpose and character, extending its lifespan while creating new avenues for play and social interaction.

Jardín Torres de Agua Caliente: Local Narratives and Collaborative Design

In Tijuana, the transformation of Jardín Torres de Agua Caliente began with inclusive participatory workshops that brought together children, educators, and families. These sessions facilitated the sharing of ideas, local references, and aspirations for their kindergarten environment. A prominent recurring motif was the cardón cactus, an emblematic species of the Baja California landscape. This native plant served as the conceptual cornerstone for a magnificent, large-scale play totem, which functions ingeniously as playground apparatus, a distinctive landmark, and a visual focal point within the site. Constructed from tubular steel profiles and repurposed tires, this structure is complemented by shaded communal areas, sensory play installations, exploration pathways, and child-sized picnic tables. Together, these elements form an intricate network of spaces designed to support diverse forms of play, learning, and social engagement. The project also features a collaborative mural and asphalt artwork inspired by children's drawings and ideas, translating local flora and environmental elements into graphic interventions that reinforce the cultural connection between the playground and its surroundings. This design approach, diverging from standardized playground models, thoughtfully integrates local narratives and environmental characteristics to shape the unique identity of the space.

Play as a Catalyst for Community Connection and Development

Within educational settings, playgrounds serve as crucial environments that facilitate interactions extending beyond conventional classroom activities. They provide informal spaces for chance encounters, exploratory learning, and shared experiences among children, educators, and families. These interventions meticulously examine how thoughtful design can enhance these vital social functions. Existing structures are reimagined as gathering points, murals become visual storytelling devices, play elements serve as engaging landmarks, and sensory installations ignite curiosity and discovery. The inclusion of picnic tables and shaded areas fosters collective use and everyday interaction. Viewed through this lens, playgrounds transcend their recreational role, emerging as dynamic spaces where social relationships are nurtured, confidence is built, and profound community connections are forged.

LAPIS: A Model for Child-Friendly Urban Development

The LAPIS projects vividly illustrate how innovative playground design can significantly contribute to broader placemaking strategies. Developed through a collaborative synergy between Fundación FEMSA, Fundación Placemaking, local communities, educators, families, and Nómada Estudio Urbano, these interventions exemplify how design processes rooted in participation and local context can create truly child-friendly environments. In Mexicali, a previously neglected pergola was transformed into an engaging pavilion for sensory play and exploration. In Tijuana, a structure inspired by the iconic cardón cactus became a vibrant focal point for gathering, learning, and playful discovery. In both projects, the resulting spaces emerged organically from existing conditions, local cultural references, the resourceful use of recycled materials, and invaluable collective input. Collectively, these initiatives underscore how spaces thoughtfully designed for children can also invigorate wider community life, fostering environments that actively encourage interaction, participation, and a deeper, more meaningful sense of place.

Sónar+D 2026: Blurring the Lines Between Biology and Algorithms
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Sónar+D 2026: Blurring the Lines Between Biology and Algorithms

JR's Pont Neuf Installation Faces Delay Due to Structural Damage
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JR's Pont Neuf Installation Faces Delay Due to Structural Damage

Paper Rod Furniture: From Flat Sheet to Three-Dimensional Structure
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Paper Rod Furniture: From Flat Sheet to Three-Dimensional Structure

Building materials

LANZA atelier's 2026 Serpentine Pavilion: A Modern Interpretation of Ancient Brickwork

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The 2026 Serpentine Pavilion, designed by LANZA atelier and titled 'a serpentine', offers a fresh perspective on an ancient architectural technique. This project, situated in London's Kensington Gardens, draws inspiration from the serpentine or crinkle-crankle wall, a construction method originating in Ancient Egypt known for its efficiency and strength. Through an innovative use of brick, the pavilion aims to foster social interaction and challenge traditional architectural concepts, embodying principles of material economy, aesthetic appeal, and permeability.

"A Serpentine": Redefining Public Spaces Through Ancient Wisdom

The Concept: Drawing Inspiration from the Crinkle-Crankle Wall

LANZA atelier's journey into the Serpentine Pavilion project began with a serendipitous discovery. The design team became fascinated by the historical crinkle-crankle wall, an English architectural feature that shares its name with the nearby Serpentine lake and galleries. This ancient construction method, characterized by its wave-like form, offers exceptional structural stability using fewer materials than a straight wall. The architects were particularly captivated by the practical intelligence and visual elegance of this technique, which originated in Ancient Egypt and was later adopted in England.

Brickwork Reimagined: Permeability and Grace in Construction

Brick plays a pivotal role in the pavilion's design, acting as both a structural element and a conceptual driver. While bricks typically signify durability and solid enclosures, LANZA atelier employs them in a manner that defies these expectations. The designers aim to showcase artisanal building practices as enduring solutions for contemporary challenges. They describe their brick walls as permeable and gracefully structured, deliberately contrasting with the idea of monolithic, impenetrable barriers. This approach not only honors traditional craftsmanship but also highlights the potential for brick to create open and inviting spaces.

Structural Ingenuity: Achieving More with Less

The architects underscore the inherent efficiency of the serpentine wall's design. Its sinuous shape provides lateral support, allowing for a single-brick-wide structure to possess remarkable strength. This design requires less material compared to a conventional straight wall, a principle that resonates deeply with today's imperative for sustainable and resource-conscious construction. Historically, these walls have served practical functions, such as fruit walls in agricultural settings, which absorb and radiate warmth to support plant growth. This concept of maximizing utility while minimizing resources is a core tenet of LANZA atelier's design philosophy for the pavilion.

A Symbolic Connection: Serpentine's Multifaceted Meaning

The term 'serpentine' holds profound significance for the architects, extending beyond its structural application. They find a magical convergence in the word's ability to denote a body of water, a specific location, and an architectural element. This layered meaning is especially powerful given the symbolic importance of serpents in Mesoamerican cosmologies, a cultural context deeply familiar to the Mexican duo. For the first time, the Serpentine Pavilion explicitly revolves around the very concept embedded in its name, creating a rich narrative link between the structure and its surroundings.

Spatial Ambiguity: Blurring the Lines Between Inside and Outside

The pavilion's design masterfully translates these inspirations into a structure that feels both ancient and distinctly modern. Situated on the northern edge of the site, it features curving brick walls and a translucent canopy supported by a series of columns. This arrangement establishes a visual dialogue with the surrounding trees and the brick facade of the Serpentine South Gallery. The walls, rather than being solid, are composed of slender brick columns with narrow gaps, allowing visitors to see through them and creating a sense of visual connection across different parts of the space. This innovative use of material fosters a fluid boundary between the pavilion's interior and exterior, encouraging interaction and discovery. The material consistency extends to integrated furniture, where brick forms seating and a cafe counter, emphasizing the studio's commitment to exploring a single material's full potential.

Enclosure's Evolving Nature: A Dynamic Interaction with Environment

A translucent roof, constructed from a steel grid, polycarbonate panels, and Eco-Bau fabric fins, filters natural light throughout the pavilion. This blend of traditional craftsmanship with advanced technological materials creates a compelling contrast. This interplay of robustness and airiness contributes to the pavilion's most salient characteristic: its spatial ambiguity. The architects aim for a design that does not impose a fixed condition but constantly shifts between moments of privacy and openness, inviting visitors to experience the space dynamically. Extending beyond its covered sections, the pavilion includes a curved brick bench on the lawn's southern edge, with half of the structure open to the sky, further promoting exploration and movement.

Fostering Encounters: Architecture as a Catalyst for Connection

The design team believes that true architecture remains incomplete without the presence and interaction of its users. They pose a fundamental question: how can architecture facilitate more meaningful social connections? For Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo, architecture's role is not to dictate behavior but to create an environment where spontaneous encounters can flourish. 'a serpentine' is envisioned as a flexible framework for collective experiences, set to host diverse events, from performances and workshops to conversations and family activities, throughout the summer and autumn months.

Beauty in Utility: An Intelligent Response to Design Challenges

The architects' definition of beauty is intrinsically linked to utility and intelligent design. In an era often dominated by performance metrics, they argue that beauty is not separate from efficiency but often emerges from a thoughtful response to materials, climate, structure, and intended use. The serpentine wall itself stands as a prime example of this philosophy: its curved geometry uses fewer bricks, offers greater structural stability, and creates an aesthetically engaging space. This exemplifies their vision of beauty.

The Legacy of Innovation: Contributing to Architectural Discourse

The location of the pavilion within Kensington Gardens prompted reflections on the relationship between the structure and its idyllic surroundings. The architects explored the ancient Persian origins of 'paradise,' deriving a concept not merely of a walled garden, but 'the place that happens around a wall.' This perspective positions the pavilion as a catalyst for social and spatial vitality. The architects are eager to observe the unpredictable ways visitors will inhabit the space, celebrating the ability of architecture to host the unforeseen. Isabel Abascal expressed excitement about the public's interaction, while Alessandro Arienzo anticipates a strong resonance with the specific use of brick. As the 25th Serpentine Pavilion, 'a serpentine' adds its unique voice to a quarter-century of architectural experimentation, forming a "collage of the architecture of the first quarter of the 21st century." The atelier hopes their design encourages the global architectural community to embrace the cleverness of the serpentine wall—achieving greater strength and stability with fewer materials through unexpected forms—and envisions a future for architecture that champions efficiency, generosity, and collective experience.

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Architectural Reincarnation: From Abandoned Shed to Monumental Sculpture

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Cano House: A Contemporary Twist on Mid-Century Design

Helena Minginowicz: Art on Ephemeral Canvases
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Helena Minginowicz: Art on Ephemeral Canvases

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Leandro Erlich's Parisian Exhibition: Challenging Reality Through Architectural Illusions

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Leandro Erlich's inaugural monographic exhibition in the French capital, held at the esteemed Grand Palais, offers a comprehensive journey through his prolific career. This retrospective brings together a rich collection of his signature installations, innovative new pieces, archival materials, and an extensive display of models and developmental studies. The showcase meticulously details over thirty years of Erlich's artistic dedication to challenging the very fabric of reality through immersive audience participation and captivating spatial experiences.

Step Into a World Where Perception Bends Reality

Unveiling the Master of Illusion: A Parisian Retrospective

For more than three decades, the Argentine artist, Leandro Erlich, has masterfully transformed the mundane into the extraordinarily ambiguous. His creations compel observers to question what they see, turning a conventional staircase into an endless chasm, a building façade into an impossible stage for defying gravity, and bringing ephemeral clouds indoors. His domestic interiors, too, suddenly unravel our ingrained understandings of space and perception, prompting a reevaluation of the familiar.

Exploring the Shifting Sands of Perception within the Grand Palais

The exhibition meticulously guides visitors through a series of environments where familiar architectural forms undergo continuous metamorphosis. Elements like houses, windows, elevators, staircases, corridors, and urban exteriors are repurposed as instruments to test human perception and destabilize ingrained notions of reality. The resulting experience is often playful and imbued with humor, yet beneath the surface lies a profound inquiry into how our minds construct an understanding of the world around us.

Architecture as a Canvas for Experience and Transformation

Architecture has consistently held a pivotal role in Erlich's artistic endeavors, a fascination nurtured since his birth in Buenos Aires in 1973 to an architect father. However, his interest transcends mere structures, focusing instead on the profound experiences they can evoke. As he articulates within the exhibition, his engagement with architecture is less about its practical utility and more about the narratives and sensations it generates, asserting that true art often emerges where conventional functionality begins to dissolve. Throughout the exhibition, architectural forms become potent vehicles for storytelling, uncertainty, and profound transformation.

Manipulating Scale, Gravity, and Reflection: Iconic Works on Display

This distinctive approach is vividly illustrated in his pieces that ingeniously manipulate scale, gravitational forces, and reflections. 'Port of Reflection,' for instance, presents a fleet of rowing boats seemingly adrift on dark, placid water. A closer inspection reveals an astonishing deception: each vessel is mirrored by an inverted twin, crafting the illusion of a perfect reflection without any actual water. Elsewhere, 'The Cloud' brings ethereal cloud formations indoors, composed of intricately layered sheets of printed glass. These works evoke the poetic essence of natural phenomena and reveal the delicate mechanisms that govern our perception. Erlich muses, considering clouds as humanity's earliest art form, predating even sculpted clay or cave drawings, as humans have always gazed skyward, discerning shapes within their fleeting forms.

Peeking Behind the Curtain: Models and Preparatory Insights

One of the exhibition's most captivating elements is its unprecedented revelation of the creative mechanics underpinning these experiences. For the first time, Erlich exhibits an extensive collection of models, prototypes, and preliminary studies, offering a unique window into the genesis of his installations. Scattered throughout the galleries, these miniature labyrinths, distorted façades, floating houses, environmental interventions, and impossible architectural scenarios provide an unparalleled glimpse into the artist's meticulous process and conceptual evolution.

Beyond Spectacle: Illusion as a Catalyst for Interaction

These models further underscore that visual spectacle is merely a starting point, not the ultimate goal. While Erlich's creations are widely acclaimed for their surprising visual effects, he consistently emphasizes that illusion serves as a springboard for deeper engagement. He elucidates that his work, akin to kinetic art, uses the surprise generated by optical illusions as an initiation rather than a conclusion. This is precisely the moment, he explains, when the experience truly begins and transforms into an interactive dialogue with the viewer.

Bâtiment: The Zenith of Participation and Perception in Erlich's Work

Erlich often views his audience as integral collaborators, with many of his installations achieving their full impact through human interaction. This symbiotic relationship culminates in 'Bâtiment' (2004), prominently featured in the exhibition's final gallery. Here, a life-sized Parisian apartment façade lies horizontally, juxtaposed with a massive mirror suspended at a forty-five-degree angle. The reflection transforms the horizontal surface into a vertical building, allowing participants to appear as if they are scaling walls, dangling from windows, or entirely defying gravity. This piece, a highly recognizable work by Erlich, gains renewed significance within the retrospective, encapsulating many enduring questions that have shaped his practice for decades: how perception constructs reality, how architecture influences behavior, and how active participation imbues art with meaning.

The Interplay of Participation and Perception: Crafting Meaning

Erlich posits that participation and perception are intimately linked, converging at the precise moment an experience acquires significance. This core philosophy resonates throughout the entire exhibition, where reality is never presented as an unchangeable or self-evident truth, but rather as a dynamic construct continuously negotiated between the object, the surrounding space, and the observing individual.

From Whimsical Illusion to Profound Environmental Reflections

While a sense of wonder remains a hallmark of Erlich's artistry, the exhibition also highlights his increasing engagement with pressing environmental and social issues. Several projects delve into themes of instability, displacement, and ecological transformation, portraying architectural elements in various states of collapse, suspension, or mutation. Buildings appear uprooted from their foundations, urban structures buckle under unseen forces, and human constructions seem fragile against powerful natural elements. The exhibition ultimately positions Erlich as an architect of experience. Through his immersive installations, sculptural interventions, and rarely seen models, he powerfully demonstrates how certainty can be subverted and how profoundly our understanding of reality hinges on perception. As one of his exhibition statements poignantly suggests, his primary interest often lies not in objects themselves, but in their reflections, as it is within this chasm between reality and its mirrored image that the world truly begins to feel uncertain.

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