2050+ Transforms Logroño Parking Lot into Play Space for Concéntrico 2026
For the twelfth Concéntrico festival in Logroño, Basque Country, the architectural firm 2050+ created 'Frontones Danzantes.' This installation utilized three movable walls made of timber and steel, converting the Revellín car park into a versatile area for Basque pelota, basketball, and football, showcasing the adaptability of public spaces. An essay by Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli and Erica Petrillo examines sports as a reflection of urban commons, citing the loss of 250 school playing fields in England from 2010 to 2021 and the 2026 World Cup final, which will be watched by 1.5 billion people. They also discuss Palestinian fans’ solidarity and the roots of modern sports. In 2025, 2050+ launched 'Sport Stories: Beyond Competition' at the Royal College of Art, highlighting student projects, concluding with Johan Huizinga's concept of the 'magic circle.'
Key facts
- 2050+ designed 'Frontones Danzantes' for Concéntrico 2026 in Logroño, Spain.
- The installation transformed the Revellín car park into a space for Basque pelota, basketball, and football.
- The mobile walls were made of timber panels and steel frames.
- The installation was temporary and aimed to demonstrate that public space can be reclaimed.
- The essay was written by Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli and Erica Petrillo of 2050+.
- James Bridle is quoted on surveillance extending into urban environments.
- 250 school playing fields were lost in England between 2010 and 2021.
- The 2026 World Cup final was watched by almost 1.5 billion people.
- Palestinian fans in Gaza watched Egypt, Morocco, and Spain in solidarity.
- Ibiayi Briggs's 'Body Culture and Contrology' is referenced.
- 2050+ launched the 'Sport Stories' design studio at the Royal College of Art in London in 2025.
- Student projects include works by Luke Yeulett, Elena Crockett, and Chantelle Chong.
- Johan Huizinga's 'magic circle' concept from Homo Ludens (1938) is cited.
Entities
Artists
- Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli
- Erica Petrillo
- James Bridle
- Ibiayi Briggs
- Johan Huizinga
- Luke Yeulett
- Elena Crockett
- Chantelle Chong
- 2050+
Institutions
- 2050+
- Concéntrico
- Royal College of Art
- designboom
- The Museum of Modern Art
- Triennale di Milano
- van Eyck Academie
- OMA
Locations
- Logroño
- Spain
- Basque Country
- London
- England
- Milan
- Italy
- New York
- Maastricht
- Gaza
- Caracas
- Venezuela
- Naples
- Revellín