'Sky and Water' by Broissin Architects is conceived as an interior architecture proposal that constructs a sensory environment through the controlled interaction of water, structure, and material. The project in Mexico centers on a suspended circular element that generates a continuous waterfall, organizing the space around a single, defining gesture.
Broissin Architects Suspends a Ring to Shape an Indoor Waterfall Surrounded by Plants
Positioned within a 312.17 square-meter area, the installation introduces a 5-meter-diameter (16-foot) ring, supported by a system of slender steel columns and tension cables anchored to cast-in-place foundations. Despite its approximate one-ton weight, the ring is designed to appear visually light, emphasizing suspension. A concealed hydraulic system circulates water into a basin within the ring, allowing it to fall by gravity and produce a constant cascade that shapes both the acoustic and spatial conditions of the interior. The space incorporates curved gypsum-board walls finished in Chukum and matte porcelain flooring, while vegetation is integrated and later reused across other projects.
The site was chosen for its strong presence of plants and surrounding greenery. Layers of ground cover, shrubs, and trees frame the installation and provide shade and changing light throughout the day. The vegetation helps soften the structure and connect it to its surroundings, while the sound of water mixes with natural outdoor sounds.
Gravity, Water, and Sound Form an Immersive Indoor Installation
The architectural strategy focuses on translating natural phenomena into abstract spatial elements rather than literal representation. The waterfall becomes the primary device through which sound, movement, and atmosphere are structured, establishing a continuous relationship between the built environment and sensory perception.
The project, by Studio Broissin Architects, was constructed over a four-week period, beginning with site preparation and the reuse of construction debris to reduce material waste. Structural assembly, hydraulic installation, and finishing elements were executed in sequence to support the integration of technical and atmospheric components.
Through the coordination of structure, water systems, and material surfaces, Between 'Sky and Water' establishes a spatial condition defined by continuity and immersion. The project frames architecture as an interface between physical construction and sensory experience, where gravity, sound, and texture operate as primary design elements.
Spaces surrounded by nature play an important role in wellbeing, offering a sense of calm, reducing stress, and supporting a more balanced experience of the environment. In this context, the presence of vegetation and natural elements is not only visual but also contributes to how the space is felt and experienced.
Photos by: Broissin Architects.
