PLAY
ASSEMBLY
Up & Coming
PLAY
ASSEMBLY
DHM: Where did your passion for
architecture stem from? How did you come
up with the concept of PlayAssembly?
RA: I have loved architecture since I was 5
or 6 years old. In my childhood, I spent a
big part of my free time playing with Legos,
painting and making some sculpture. I think
that part of this influence comes from our
very talented and iconic Spanish architects
(Gaudi, Bofill, Miralles, Moneo, ...) and also
from traveling.
At home with
Rafael Anta
This Father’s Day,
DHM brings you a
unique toy idea
inspired by a man’s
love for his son
and an appreciation
of architecture
District Home Magazine: Where are you
from originally? What is your background?
Rafael Anta: I was born in Orense and
raised in Barcelona, Spain. I have a degree
in Computer Science and my professional
experience is a mix of entrepreneurship,
technology consulting, and innovation.
DHM: How did you end up in Washington, DC?
RA: After several years working in the
business and technology consulting space,
mostly in Europe, in 2005 I joined the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the
largest source of development financing for
Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce
poverty and inequality, at its headquarters
in Washington DC. I have the privilege to
work in a great institution, with brilliant
minds, enthusiastic and restless people
who have something in common: passion
for development.
The concept of PlayAssembly comes from
three different sources: first and most
important, I wanted to spend quality time
with my son Pau who is 9 years old. We
go biking, sailing and play tennis but I also
wanted to do something with him where
we can use our imagination and design
skills. I wanted him to live the experience
of developing an idea, from the concept
to the product. Second, because of my
passion for architecture and third, because
I found that crowdfunding platforms such
as Kickstarter are a real provocation for
people who have creative ideas. After
some thought, we decided to focus on
developing a construction toy that allows
you to build geodesic domes. We wanted
to create something new that allows you
to build human-size structures. I don’t
know if we will ɕ