Carsten Höller is bringing a permanent ride into Antara's expansion with Mexico City Slides, four spiral slides at Arte Abierto Polanco in Mexico City that let visitors move through the complex by sliding. Set within the mixed-use development, the work links public areas such as restaurants and Google's offices and is due to open free to the public in December 2026.
Each tube takes one rider, so people can start from separate points and reach the same landing together. The stainless steel chutes rise as high as 38 meters, and the longest runs 90 meters, turning circulation into a shared visual event even for people who stay on the ground.
Free public access gives Antara a built-in attraction that doubles as circulation, not just a stand-alone artwork. A ride that merges work and leisure routes widens how developers and art spaces can use play inside everyday architecture.
Image Credit: Carsten Höller, designboom, designboom
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Playable Architecture
- Mixed-use spaces are increasingly embedding recreational features into core circulation, creating differentiation through environments that merge movement, leisure, and public spectacle.
- Experiential Public Art
- Permanent artworks that invite physical participation can transform commercial developments into cultural destinations with repeat visitation and broader civic relevance.
- Leisure-led Wayfinding
- Design elements that make navigation entertaining introduce new value in real estate by turning functional routes into memorable shared experiences.
Sectors Adopting This
- Commercial Real Estate
- Developers can gain an edge by integrating landmark attractions directly into retail, office, and dining environments rather than relying solely on tenants for foot traffic.
- Public Art
- Institutions and artists are expanding beyond visual installations toward usable infrastructure that reshapes how audiences interact with urban space.
- Architecture and Design
- Firms are finding new possibilities in blending utility with play, allowing buildings to support emotional engagement alongside practical movement.
