Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0 is inspired by the mercados of Latin America, lively street markets where human connections are made every day.

With their basic shape recognizable by all, the tiny houses form a blank canvas for community engagement and activity, where people of all ages can socialize in a playful spirit.

The swing invites the passer-by to settle comfortably in the small houses and to relax by swaying quietly in a unique environment! When a casa is empty, a welcoming white glow bids you to enter. Once inside, the glow intensifies to show that someone is home.

Héctor Esrawe is a prolific furniture and interior designer, architect, academic and entrepreneur, living and working in Mexico City. He has founded his multidisciplinary design studio in 2003, which aims to develop integral design solutions. Esrawe Studio breaths of dedication, passion and persistence, focusing on fine details and quality, pushing boundaries and taking on new challenges.

Ignacio Cadena is the owner and creative director of CADENA CONCEPTS®, a multidisciplinary firm with more than 20 years of experience imagining astounding solutions where design, innovation and creativity become real tools for transformation.

“Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0” draws inspiration from the vibrant mercados, or street markets, of Latin America—places where people connect, trade, and interact socially. The designers, both from Mexico, have fond memories of these lively markets from their childhood. The installation embodies the joy of connecting with others and the sense of community found in public spaces, reflecting the long-standing tradition of creating spaces designed for people to gather, linger, and communicate.

The artists explored the concept of creating a defined space without the use of walls. What sets “Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0” apart from its earlier version is the use of light. Serge Maheu, a multidisciplinary artist from Montreal, developed the interactive lighting design. When a casa is empty, a soft white glow invites people to step inside, and once someone is within, the light intensifies, signaling that the space is occupied.

This lighting element also extends the experience of “Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0” beyond daylight hours, allowing it to be enjoyed well into the evening.

The phrase “Mi Casa, Su Casa,” translates to “My House, Your House” in English. It is a common Spanish expression that embodies the spirit of hospitality and generosity. The phrase essentially means “Make yourself at home” or “What’s mine is yours,” conveying a warm invitation to guests to feel comfortable and welcome in someone else’s home.

The saying reflects the deep cultural value placed on hospitality in many Spanish-speaking countries, where it is customary to treat guests as part of the family. The phrase has become widely recognized and is often used, even by non-Spanish speakers, to express a friendly and open attitude toward others.