Client: Private

Overview

Mi Casa, Your Casa is inspired by the mercados of Latin America, lively street markets where human connections are made every day.

The installation features a series of three-dimensional red frames that illustrate the warmth, comfort, and safety of our homes. With their basic shape recognizable by all, the tiny houses form a blank canvas for community engagement and activity, where people of all ages can socialize in a playful spirit.

The swing invites the passer-by to settle comfortably in the small houses and to relax by swaying quietly in a unique environment! When a casa is empty, a welcoming white glow bids you to enter. Once inside, the glow intensifies to show that someone is home.

Goals

The installation activates public spaces through emotional and playful design. It shows the value of human interaction, the tendency to socialize is behind the core of the project. Since its beginning the installation has proved the timeless essence of connection. The original version was set to activate a new relationship between the High Museum of Atlanta and its neighborhood, not only transforming the public space but building a bond between the community surrounding it. After being in Atlanta, the installation became itinerary and was placed in several museums, streets and public parks in different cities and countries. At a certain moment it also worked as a relief, becoming a temporary refuge for some families that lost their homes during the earthquake of 2017 in Mexico.

Mi Casa Your Casa is a strong and subtle symbol in a geometric shape that will allow us to build a unique iconic piece, one that creates a continuous dialogue with audiences and capable of continuous changes and mutations. A living canvas…

The installation continues creating community and activating public spaces.

Process

Mi Casa, Your Casa is an original concept by the Mexican highly creative duo Esrawe + Cadena (Hector Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena). After successfully being presented in Atlanta, the installation became itinerary and was presented in Mexico City, Miami, Austin and San Antonio.
In order to push the limits of the installation and to continue contributing in energizing other public spaces around the world, E + C partnered with Creos, a world leading agency for tourable public interactive installations in urban spaces.
2021 has seen the birth of Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0; Creos, in collaboration with Serge Maheu, has brought a brand new lighting and technological experience to the installation. And as many new configurations as locations/destinations are planned in the upcoming years.

Additional Information

Did you know? - The swings are made of urban ash! They give a second life to the trees that were cut down by the City of Montreal because of the emerald ash borer.