Designed by a team from the design collective GUN Arquitectos, the Water Cathedral is a stunning outdoor installation that features an overhang of eye-catching vertical elements.
These vertical components, which are done in varying lengths and shapes and seem suspended in the air, are meant to mimic the stalactites hanging from cave interiors. Indeed, the ground of the Water Cathedral also features rising, pointed elements that look like a cave's stalagmites. While these "stalactites" and "stalagmites" provide an intriguing aesthetic to the space, they were actually designed to function as a cooling mechanism for visitors. Water is drawn from a hydraulic irrigation network to fill them, and when they're filled, the water will drip down in droplets to cool the people below.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Suspended Stalactite Ceilings
- Creating outdoor installations with suspended stalactite-like elements for aesthetic appeal and functional cooling.
- Vertical Water Features
- Incorporating water-filled vertical elements for both visual impact and practical cooling purposes.
- Hydraulic Irrigation Network
- Exploring the use of hydraulic irrigation networks to supply water for innovative cooling mechanisms in public spaces.
Sectors Adopting This
- Architecture and Design
- Opportunities for architects and designers to incorporate suspended stalactite ceilings and vertical water features into outdoor installations.
- Public Space Planning
- Urban planners can consider the use of water-filled vertical elements as cooling mechanisms in public spaces such as parks and plazas.
- Water Supply and Conservation
- Potential for collaboration between hydraulic irrigation networks and public spaces to create functional and visually appealing cooling systems using water resources.
