{"id":347308,"date":"2026-07-06T12:10:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T16:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=347308"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:58:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T19:58:48","slug":"on-the-curve-mexico-city-architects-lanza-atelier-on-the-power-of-walls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/on-the-curve-mexico-city-architects-lanza-atelier-on-the-power-of-walls\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Curve: Mexico City Architects Lanza Atelier on the \u2018Power of Walls\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The duo behind this summer\u2019s celebrated Serpentine Pavilion in London discuss the sensuality of bricks with Harriet Thorpe<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"aerial<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Serpentine Pavilion 2026, designed by Lanza Atelier, in London\u2019s Hyde Park. Photo: Iwan Baan. Courtesy Serpentine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A \u201ccrinkle-crankle\u201d wall has popped up in London\u2019s Hyde Park, its snaking line softly organic, despite being built from rational, rectangular bricks. Referencing an 18th-century British style with ancient Egyptian origins, it forms part of the 25th annual Serpentine Pavilion, one of architecture\u2019s most prestigious commissions, which this year showcases the vision of Mexico City-based team Lanza Atelier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur work finds beauty in how things are used, constructed and experienced,\u201d says Isabel Abascal, who founded the studio in 2015 with her partner, Alessandro Arienzo. \u201cThe Serpentine wall carries a lot of sensuality, but it uses less material than a straight wall. So, in this case, beauty lies in the refined cleverness of the structure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Isabel Abascal and her partner Alessandro Arienzo founded Lanza Atelier in 2015. Photograph: \u00a9 Pia Riverola<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brick walls are rarely considered sensual. Conceptually, they\u2019re symbolic of border divisions, abrupt endings and creative blocks. Yet Lanza Atelier\u2019s pavilion design is consciously permeable: soon to be animated by the colors of nature, the movement of people, and the dappled light that will stream through vertical strips of space between each stacked column. \u201cIt reveals the power of walls not to divide, but to bring us together,\u201d says Arienzo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This same vitality is evident in the studio\u2019s Casa Jajalpa<\/a> (2019), a family home in a pine forest near Mexico City, constructed from tactile bricks that change color with the seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than being monolithic, the micro-modularity of this material adapts to nature through curved and lattice forms\u2014a contemporary house, yet embedded in its environment like the millennia-old brick structures of Mesopotamian civilizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"exterior<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lanza Atelier\u2019s Casa Jajalpa, a sustainable family home near Mexico City. Photograph: Dane Alonso. Courtesy Lanza Atelier<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brick is enjoying a resurgence in residential architecture, thanks to its green credentials as much as its historical reference points. Certainly, Lanza Atelier\u2019s adaptive designs and context-responsive materials bring a sense of timelessness, drawing lines between past, present and future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For their pavilion, the studio chose a familiar red brick\u2014sourced from Wienerberger\u2019s 100-year-old factory in the Surrey village of Ewhurst\u2014echoing both the English garden tradition and the nearby Grade II-listed Serpentine South Gallery, originally a 1930s tea house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their Casa Caracol <\/a>(2024) in Cancun, meanwhile, was built from a concrete aggregate, with spiraling sea-snail shells from the local beach folded into the surfaces of the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Casa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Inside Casa Jajalpa: the entire house was built from locally-produced tabique blanco<\/em> bricks. Photograph: Dane Alonso. Courtesy Lanza Atelier<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This functional poetry aims to blend craft and innovation in the face of rapid, homogenizing urbanization. \u201cIn the midst of a planetary climate crisis, we trust raw local materials to create a more sustainable balance with the high-tech,\u201d says Abascal, before adding: \u201cBoth are important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the duo, this is a lived understanding: the couple reside in a renovated adobe ruin in Mexico City with thick earth walls that are thermally insulating and acoustically softening, but they actively participate in the beautiful friction of the metropolis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, their Serpentine Pavilion offers visitors the chance to rediscover a sense of balance: a space to readjust perceptions, meditate on time and absorb the sculptural energy of place. As Arienzo says: \u201cThe ability to perceive\u2014and marvel at\u2014beauty is, for us, even more relevant than beauty itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brick is back: read more about the luxury design material that never dates<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serpentine Pavilion 2026 by Lanza Atelier<\/a> is open until October 25, 2026 at the Serpentine Galleries, London.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The duo behind this summer\u2019s celebrated Serpentine Pavilion in London discuss the sensuality of bricks with Harriet Thorpe The Serpentine Pavilion 2026, designed by Lanza Atelier, in London\u2019s Hyde Park. Photo: Iwan Baan. Courtesy Serpentine. A \u201ccrinkle-crankle\u201d wall has popped up in London\u2019s Hyde Park, its snaking line softly organic, despite being built from rational, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770377,"featured_media":347323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1393,1558],"tags":[1463],"class_list":["post-347308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-and-culture","category-artists-makers","tag-mexico"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1slK","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":347070,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/brick-is-back-the-design-material-that-never-dates\/","url_meta":{"origin":347308,"position":0},"title":"Brick Is Back: The Design Material That Never Dates","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"June 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Heritage skills and craftsmanship turn the humble clay block into a true mark of luxury, writes Riya Patel Melbourne, Australia | Melbourne Sotheby\u2019s International Realty As Lanza Atelier debuts its playfully sinuous Serpentine Pavilion this summer in London\u2019s Hyde Park, the Mexican studio continues a longstanding architectural love affair with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"brick and stone exterior of Dorset home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brick_Dorset1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brick_Dorset1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brick_Dorset1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brick_Dorset1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brick_Dorset1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brick_Dorset1.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344581,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/on-the-scent-the-rise-of-fragrance-in-luxury-interiors\/","url_meta":{"origin":347308,"position":1},"title":"On the Scent: The Rise of Fragrance in Luxury Interiors","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"September 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Designing for the senses is the height of luxury. 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Photograph: Moro Dabron \u00a0 There is a moment in every remarkable home when something intangible takes hold\u2014not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/On-the-Scent_Amber-Boule.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/On-the-Scent_Amber-Boule.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/On-the-Scent_Amber-Boule.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/On-the-Scent_Amber-Boule.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/On-the-Scent_Amber-Boule.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/On-the-Scent_Amber-Boule.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":343140,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/luxury-real-estate-headlines-second-week-in-december-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":347308,"position":2},"title":"Luxury Real Estate Headlines: Second Week in December, 2024","author":"SIR Admin","date":"December 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0New York, New York\u00a0| Sotheby's International Realty East Side Manhatttan Brokerage This historic brownstone was once owned by the legendary musician, artist, and poet\u00a0Bob Dylan. You\u2019ll Be in Good Company if You Buy This Midtown Manhattan Townhouse\u00a0\u2013 The Spaces Inside a $4.4M Midcentury Compound in the Mountains Above Malibu\u00a0\u2013 Robb\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/market-insights\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/2-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/2-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":393,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/what-is-a-perfect-home-for-an-aquarius\/","url_meta":{"origin":347308,"position":3},"title":"What Is a Perfect Home for an Aquarius?","author":"Procurement Admin","date":"January 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Our monthly series asks: What decor best suits each zodiac sign? 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So what kind of homes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header-3.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header-3.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346276,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/color-chart-the-joys-of-a-classic-yellow-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":347308,"position":4},"title":"Color Chart: The Joys of a Classic Yellow Home","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"March 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into luxury design? 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