Sensational Skate Park & Urban Climbing Wall in Spain

It’s not just a skate park, it’s an architectural landmark. Factoria Joven (“youth factory”) is a skate park and climbing wall in Merida, Spain, which opened in  March 2011. Its bright, modern geometric design was inspired by the construction methods used to create Chinese dragons.

Architects José Selgas and Lucía Cano of SelgasCano Studio took on the challenge of creating an urban gathering space for young people which could be constructed of inexpensive building materials.

Made largely of vivid, lightweight polycarbonate and completed in just 13 months, Factoria Joven has quickly become everything the project collaborators wished for, bustling with athletic activity day and night.

In addition to a large climbing wall and space for biking and skating, Factoria Joven includes a computer lab and dance studio, meeting rooms and spaces for street theater, video, electronic music and graffiti.