The Museum of Modern Art in New York has announced Mexican design practice Escobedo Solíz Studio as the winner of its annual Young Architects Program (YAP).

The design competition, now in its 17th year, challenges the winner to develop an innovative and sustainable design for a temporary outdoor installation providing shade, seating and water at MoMA’s sister institution, MoMA PS1, in Long Island City.

Escobedo Solíz Studio’s winning project, Weaving the Courtyard, will open in early June. The re-usable installation will cover the museum’s courtyard with a textured canopy of colourful ropes of varying density, inviting visitors to interact and occupy the spaces below.

Platforms of soil and water will suggest the appearance of a natural topography and a reflective wading pool will allow visitors to cool off in fresh water.

“The installation is neither an object nor a sculpture standing in the courtyard, but a series of simple, powerful actions that generate new and different atmospheres,” said the architects in a statement.

Weaving the Courtyard will host MoMA PS1’s Warm Up summer music series in Q3 this year.



MoMA recently unveiled revised US$445m (€407.3m, £310.6m) plans to redevelop and expand the facility,with plans by Diller Scofidio + Renfro streamlining the museum experience to work better for both visitors and curators.

The expansion is expected to be complete by 2020.