Playful architecture

In Quebec City, thirty staircases connect the Lower Town to the Upper Town. Escale is an annual artistic event that celebrates this world-unique heritage. From May 30 to September 1, discover three works created by Quebec City artists and architects that reveal the full richness of these transition spaces. A playful and thought-provoking installation in Old Quebec. In the heart of Old Quebec, just steps from the historic fortifications, a unique installation comes to life within the city's iconic staircases. Titled Un jeu d’enfant! (Child's Play!), this work is inspired by the colorful building blocks that children manipulate with boundless creativity. Based on the play sessions of two young girls, Estelle and Lili, aged 3 and 5, the... More

Built on a sloped site in Jouret El Ballout, Lebanon, the new extension of Collège Louise Wegmann reimagines the relationship between architecture, education, and emotion—offering students a school that is at once playful, generous, and grounded. Marco Pinarelli Marco Pinarelli Marco Pinarelli Marco Pinarelli Designed by Dagher Hanna & Partners, the building responds to both the steep topography and the school’s evolving pedagogical mission. A U-shaped addition turnsback toward the existing L-shaped school structure, consolidating the original courtyard and creating a new one in the process. This configuration reinforces spatial coherence across the campus while introducing vital new programmatic... More

A teleport corridor runs through every floor, leading to common spaces with a very different vibe: the functional, basic workspace areas are juxtaposed with sci-fi meeting rooms, lounge areas, and coffee points, each featuring different combinations of bright colours, textures, materials, and laid-back design solutions. The office also has a variety of quiet, secluded spaces for individual work, online meetings, and conferences.  Ilya Ivanov Ilya Ivanov Ilya Ivanov The dissimilar areas with their diverse references are connected by the overarching idea of creating fantasy worlds consisting of open, friendly, and vibrant spaces.  Ilya Ivanov Ilya Ivanov Ilya Ivanov The work patterns of software devel... More

In the summer of 2024, Dome Square, Riga Old Town’s largest open public space, was home to "Dome Next Door," a modular urban art installation inviting everyone to explore, connect, and playfully engage right in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. "Dome Next Door" will be open to the public again in 2025. Ana Barros Ana Barros Ana Barros Located at the junction of seven historic streets, "Dome Next Door" offers an interactive experience inspired by Riga’s architectural heritage. With nods to medieval vaults, the Dome Cathedral’s Cloister, and the striking geometry of arched windows and historic façades, this project reimagines the past through a contemporary lens. It’s a spac... More

Play with heritage Hidden in the beautiful mountainous landscape of Piemonte, some little towns stand out as tiny gems in the lush green of the woods. These small agglomerations of few houses tied together inspired Carve for the design of an attractive and iconic playscape concept at Serravalle Designer Outlet. Carve was asked by McArthurGlen, a client with whom a long lasting collaboration has been established, to create a multifunctional design,where several features needed to come together as a whole: an iconic playscape, the main (event) square, a pic-nic area, an indoor creche, lighting and shading structure all connected with a common design language. Looking for a flexible approach, our team based the whole plan on a strong geometr... More

Unravel by play This Gordian knot of climbing and sliding tunnels can be playfully unravelled. The at first sight impossible assignment to bring all client's wishes and ideas together into this one playground has been literally solved as a metaphor. Carve designed a spatial playful area, matching the look and feel of the refurbished interior of l'Aljub, a shopping centre located in Elche (Alicante, Spain).    Big expectations, little spaceShopping malls nowadays are trying to attract families, and bond with a young crowd in general. To stand out, a bespoke playground can make a difference. There is often a lot of expectation from the client's side, but little space to work with. The main objective of a shopping mall is of cours... More