escobedo solíz studio’s weaving the courtyard wins MoMA PS1 young architects program

escobedo solíz studio’s weaving the courtyard wins MoMA PS1 young architects program
all images © escobedo solíz studio

mexico city-based escobedo solíz studio has been announced the winner of the 2016 young architects program (YAP) at MoMA PS1. now in the 17th edition of the ongoing series, the program offers young and emerging firms the opportunity to present innovative designs realized in the outdoor area of MoMa PS1 in long island. the winning project by the young firm, named ‘weaving the courtyard’, will form the centerpiece of the warm up summer music series in the gallery’s external courtyard.

 a textured and colored canopy will be suspended over the courtyard, or a ‘cloud’ made of contrasting ropes

led by architects lazbent pavel escobedo and andres solíz, they describe their installation as ‘neither an object nor a sculpture standing in the courtyard, but a series of simple, powerful actions that generate new and different atmospheres.’ weaving the courtyard will be a site-specific architectural intervention using the space’s concrete walls to result in both the sky and landscape – with embankments in which platforms of soil and water suggest the appearance of a unique topography. the architects will weave a textured and colored canopy suspended over the courtyard, or a ‘cloud’ made of contrasting ropes. variations of density will be visible throughout the weaving, inviting visitors to interact and occupy spaces for different periods of time. 

the woven cloud will provide shade to the visitors below while recasting the courtyard in a bright colored web

the architects must work within guidelines that address environmental issues, including sustainability and recycling

the program offers emerging architectural talent the opportunity to design and present innovative projects

a reflective wading pool will stand at the back of the courtyard allowing visitors to cool off in fresh water

as the materials will be largely unaltered by the construction process, they can be re-used at the close of summer