Using modular board games as a tool—not only to raise awareness about architecture but also to foster a more intimate, participatory, and accessible understanding of the built environment. That is the goal of “Architecture in Play,” a cultural outreach initiative in which participants of all ages—from the elderly to the young—can discover architectural concepts through individual and team-based experimentation.
Through playful activities, they explore issues related to spatial design, urban planning, sustainability, and the impact of architecture on daily life—which also contributes to the principles of effective citizen participation outlined in the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus initiative.
Moreover, through this project, architecture is no longer perceived as an exclusively technical discipline but rather becomes an educational tool capable of sparking curiosity and critical thinking about the quality of the spaces we inhabit. Likewise, “Arquitectura en juego” demonstrates how participatory methodologies and experiential learning can help build a more open and inclusive architectural culture.
By fostering dialogue among citizens, education, and design, the project highlights the value of architecture as a common and accessible good, as well as a driving force for envisioning more livable cities and communities. But how does it achieve this? The game includes a modular board with interchangeable pieces that allow players to configure various architectural spaces and landscapes in each game.
This flexible structure expands through thematic modules that reflect activities such as architecture biennials (BEAU, BIAU), the TAC! Festival of ephemeral architecture, the La Casa de la Arquitectura Awards, and itineraries focused on collective housing. Through these modules, the player takes on active roles and makes strategic decisions related to the restoration of historic monuments and resource management.
“Architecture at Play” is a project by Paloma Baquero Masats that has been selected for funding under La Casa de la Arquitectura’s grant program, administered by the General Secretariat for Urban Agenda, Housing, and Architecture of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda. It will be complemented by in-person workshops at professional associations of architects, events at cultural fairs, and the publication of digital resources designed to help expand the social impact of this initiative, which champions the analog and the value of the physical object.
