Nómada Estudio Urbano transforms kindergartens in Mexicali and Tijuana with recycled materials and local references

Nómada Estudio Urbano, in collaboration with Fundación FEMSA and Fundación Placemaking, has transformed kindergarten environments in Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico, as part of the LAPIS initiative (Lugares Amigables para la Primera Infancia). The project repurposes underutilized spaces into child-friendly play areas informed by desert identity, adaptive reuse, and community participation. At Jardín Centenario in Mexicali, a deteriorated pergola was repaired and converted into a play pavilion with suspended sensory elements, wooden balance circuits, and swings made from recycled tires. At Jardín Torres de Agua Caliente in Tijuana, participatory workshops with children, educators, and families led to a play totem inspired by the cardón cactus, constructed from tubular steel and recycled tires, accompanied by shaded gathering areas, sensory installations, and a collaborative mural. The interventions emphasize play as a tool for placemaking, strengthening social interaction and community bonds. Lead designer Miguel Mendoza and lead architect Manuel Chávez headed the project, with cultural manager Miguel Rangel.