Carsten Höller Unveils Grandest Slide Installation in Mexico City
Artist Carsten Höller has recently unveiled his most monumental architectural slide installation, named 'Mexico City Slides,' in a new development within Mexico City. This remarkable project, executed in collaboration with local architectural firm Sordo Madaleno, features an array of slides of varying dimensions, marking a significant addition to the cityscape.
Details of the 'Mexico City Slides' Installation
On November 9, 2026, in the bustling Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City, artist Carsten Höller introduced his latest and most extensive slide artwork. Named 'Mexico City Slides,' this installation comprises four distinct slides, with heights ranging from 12 to 38 meters and lengths extending from 31 to an impressive 90 meters. These magnificent metallic structures, some featuring transparent sections, gracefully descend through the central courtyard of the Antara development. This innovative complex, a joint venture between Sordo Madaleno and SOMA, integrates retail spaces, offices—including an outpost for tech giant Google—and an upcoming 43-story Rosewood Hotel. Curated by Arte Abierto, the slides serve as dynamic conduits, transporting individuals from the diverse retail, hospitality, and office areas to a communal outdoor landing zone. Höller views these slides as more than just a playful architectural element; he sees them as a means to liberate people from their everyday routines, providing a thrilling blend of excitement and apprehension. He highlighted how the experience unites individuals from various sectors, sharing a moment of transition from the familiar into a dreamlike state of simultaneous exhilaration and fear. This latest creation follows a lineage of similar installations by Höller across the globe, including those in a Florentine palazzo, within London's iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit, and at the Vitra campus.
This installation beautifully blurs the lines between art, architecture, and interactive experience. It prompts visitors to engage with their urban environment in a novel and stimulating way, fostering a sense of shared adventure and momentary escape from the mundane. Such innovative public art projects encourage communal interaction and offer a fresh perspective on how urban spaces can be utilized to evoke powerful human emotions, transforming a simple descent into a memorable journey of joy and apprehension.
