Eben shapes the miniature cities of Palomano Parks

In the vibrant world of play spaces, Palomano stands out as an exception. Designed as true micro-cities, its immersive parks invite children to take on a wide range of roles – firefighter, cashier, pilot, dentist, chef, or hairdresser – within settings where every element is designed to bring imagination to life. For this young family-run company with an innovative concept, the goal is clear: to encourage discovery through hands-on experience, autonomy, and interaction.

To bring these miniature worlds to life, Palomano’s three founders called on Eben La Menuiserie (see L’Agenceur n° 82), which delivers highly precise fit-out work that turns play into a true learning tool. The Franco-Portuguese company handled the manufacturing and installation of all the furniture, from spectacular pieces – the airplane, trucks, house, and medical and veterinary clinics – to the more discreet elements that structure circulation, storage, and activity areas. Together, they form a coherent, legible, and intuitive interior architecture, where each volume contributes to the narrative.

More importantly, the company led by Micael Costa designed a reproducible process, essential to the national expansion of the concept. A modular approach conceived from the outset allows up to three new parks to be deployed per month while ensuring consistent quality: structural strength, material durability, and precision of finishes. Material selection plays a central role here. Wood, omnipresent throughout, provides the sensory softness characteristic of spaces dedicated to children. It lends itself both to the shaping of generous volumes, the construction of robust structures, and the expression of a warm and reassuring visual language. Its malleability makes it possible to faithfully translate creative intent while maintaining safety as an absolute requirement – a fundamental issue in environments used daily by children.

This alliance between technical rigor and spatial poetry is the very essence of the partnership. As Nathan Mendelson, co-founder of Palomano, summarises: “we wanted extraordinary furniture, and Eben was able to support us with relevance through all the necessary adjustments. We rely on the robustness of their structure to support our pace of openings and our national and international rollouts.”

A vision shared by Emmanuel Rego, Strategy and Innovation Director at Eben: “Reproducing the Palomano universe means entering a world where precision, agility, and rigor are essential. We worked on every piece of furniture to ensure it is safe, durable, reproducible, and above all faithful to the original intent.”

Together, the two partners are shaping a network of immersive spaces where interior architecture becomes a tool for education. A striking demonstration of how fit-out design, when considered in its finest detail, can support imagination and learning.

Photo credits: Sarah Annie