The RUBIN Museum's concept proposes a journey through "Mandala Lab", which on this occasion was designed by EXTUDIO / ENORME Studio, and is located in the Doña Casilda de Iturrizar Park, also known as Doña Casilda Park. This green space is located in the Biscayan capital of Bilbao, in the Basque Country, Spain.

The laboratory is an interactive installation that invites curiosity about our emotions. It reflects on how complex feelings manifest themselves in people's daily lives and considers how they can be transformed.
"Mandala lab" by EXTUDIO / ENORME Studio is configured from 5 playful experiences that invite reflection, where sensory experiences such as videos and aromas are included. To all this is added a sculpture that invites collective breathing and instruments.

The roof of the building is light and allows light to pass through to illuminate the entire space, both central and radial. Large openings in the wall allow ventilation of the space and generate views to the outside. These vary in their morphology, with different geometric shapes such as circles or triangles.


Experiencing space through the senses. Mandala Lab by EXTUDIO / ENORME Studio.


Experiencing space through the senses. Mandala Lab by EXTUDIO / ENORME Studio.
 

Description of project by EXTUDIO / ENORME Studio

The Mandala Lab is an interactive installation that invites curiosity about our emotions. Consider how complex feelings show up in your everyday life and imagine how you might have the power to transform them.

Inspired by powerful Buddhist principles, the Mandala Lab features 5 thought-provoking, playful experiences—including videos accompanied by scents, a sculpture that invites collective breathing, and curated percussion instruments dipped in waters—that guide you along an inner journey focused on self-awareness and awareness of others. See, smell, touch, and breathe your way through the space, designed to inspire connection, empathy, and learning.

The Mandala Lab includes artist contributions from:
Laurie Anderson / Sanford Biggers / Tenzin Tsetan Choklay / Billy Cobham / Amit Dutta / Sheila E. / Peter Gabriel / Dame Evelyn Glennie / Sarah Hennies / Huang Ruo / Shivamani / Wang Yahui / Palden Weinreb / Apichatpong Weerasethakul / Bora Yoon / Scents created by Christophe Laudamiel / Select gongs manufactured by Ryan Shelledy or Matt Nolan, UK.

About Mandalas and Emotions
Mandalas are Buddhist teaching tools that can be used to learn how to confront and transform feelings of pride, attachment, envy, anger, and ignorance. Known as kleshas in Buddhism, these five afflictive emotions cloud our understanding of the world. Through a deep, sustained investigation of these emotions, some Buddhist practitioners cultivate corresponding wisdom and skills that help them shift their view of the world, themselves, and others. Each activity on the floor is designed to help you examine these specific emotional states.

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Architects
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Dates
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2022. Open to public 1-17th June 2022.
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Location
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Doña Casilda Park, Bilbao, Spain.
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estudioballoon. Javier de Paz García.
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ENORME Studio, founded in Madrid in 2016, is the evolution of three co-founders of PKMN Architectures: Carmelo Rodríguez, Rocío Pina and David Pérez. After collaborating for ten years on more than a hundred projects, they have launched this new shared initiative that maintains the same radical approach to architecture. They design and build architectural projects based on industrial systems and typological innovation.

They specialize in the design of mobile systems applied to housing, workspace, and commerce. They have transformed the traditional concept of living into architecture, creating spaces that are easily transformed through simple gestures. They design and implement participatory dynamics in the field of city construction through their creative services platform CIUDAD CREA CIUDAD and the creation of CITIZEN BRAND IDENTITIES. Their goal is to promote alternative ways of addressing urban issues and motivate the creation of a proactive civic culture. They design and apply "Tactical Urbanism" tools that translate teamwork strategies and collective thinking dynamics into the design and management of public and private spaces. Their goal is to return the city to its citizens as an emotional, plural, and relational space.

Among their most notable projects is their collaboration on the Spanish Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka, alongside Néstor Montenegro and Smart and Green Design. Selected through a public competition organized by Acción Cultural Española, their proposal, under the motto "The Kuroshio Current," seeks to connect Spain and Japan through a comprehensive experience that combines architecture, art, design, gastronomy, and outreach, using sustainable and low-impact materials.

Other recent projects include the flexible Beyome home in Madrid, a modular system that allows rooms to be reconfigured according to the needs of the inhabitants, and the installation The Theory of Cherries, a playful and colorful proposal that encourages interaction and reflection on public spaces.

ENORME Studio has been recognized for its innovation and commitment to sustainability, participating in various competitions and receiving mentions in specialized publications. Its interdisciplinary and participatory approach continues to position it as a benchmark in contemporary Spanish architecture.

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Extudio is an architectural studio based in Madrid, founded and led by Néstor Montenegro. They are a transversal office dedicated to thought, creation and production of Architecture in several fields such as individual and collective housing, commercial and work spaces, public venues and city infrastructures, interior design and ephemeral installations.

Néstor Montenegro (Madrid, 1975) holds a degree in architecture from the ETSAM (National Technical University of Madrid). After 10 years as a partner at dosmasunoarquitectos, in 2013 he founded EXTUDIO, an architectural practice where he develops his professional activity in various fields related to architecture: from design to dissemination, publishing and curating, research, and teaching.

He is the designer of widely awarded and publicised buildings, including: 102 homes in Carabanchel (Ecola Awards and Enor Awards 2009), the Social Services Center in Móstoles (Architecture Plus Award 2012, COAM Award 2012, AIT Award – Architektur Innenarchitecktur Technischer Ausbau Hamburg 2012, Arquia Próxima Award 2012), and the Municipal Library and Theater of Boadilla del Monte (COAM Award 2022, XIV BEAU Award 2023, Matcoam Award 2022), all in Madrid.

The Holy Week Museum in Zamora, the Comprehensive Security Center in Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, and the Spanish Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka World Expo are currently under development as winners of first prizes in competitions.

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Published on: July 13, 2022
Cite: "Experiencing space through the senses. Mandala Lab by EXTUDIO / ENORME Studio" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/experiencing-space-through-senses-mandala-lab-extudio-enorme-studio> ISSN 1139-6415
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