Architect Arthur Mamou-Mani has won the Shaping Water Competition with his installation “Harmonic Tides,” which will be built at Clerkenwell Design Week this month. The installation features two undulating 3D-printed walls designed to mimic wave-like forms. The structures showcase ripple-like geometry inspired by natural hydrodynamic forms such as river eddies and spiral ocean currents.
The installation utilizes modules made from sugar-based polylactic acid (PLA), an industrially compostable bioplastic derived from renewable resources. These components were fabricated locally at Mamou-Mani’s London studio. In an environmentally conscious approach, the modules have been repurposed from previous installations and reconfigured specifically for this site.
Mamou-Mani describes the installation as a “water corridor” that incorporates LED lighting responsive to wave patterns. The lighting system aims to evoke underwater landscapes, while gentle music enhances the immersive experience. These elements combine to create a space where visitors can pause and reflect.
The Shaping Water Competition was organized by Dezeen in partnership with bathroom brands Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard. Participants were tasked with designing a large-scale public installation for St John’s Gate in London that celebrates water while responding to the site’s context. Entries needed to explore both functional and aesthetic qualities of water.
Dezeen’s editorial director Max Fraser, one of the competition judges, praised the winning design for its ability to “freeze the wave-like rhythms of water movement through its structure.” Fraser noted, “The 3D-printed sugar-based PLA has been cleverly engineered into these self-supporting undulating forms that will cocoon visitors. With the addition of light and sound, this striking installation will drastically contrast with the otherwise traditional environment of St John’s Gate.”
The completed “Harmonic Tides” installation will make its debut at this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week. The installation will later be featured on Dezeen’s website in the coming weeks.
Source: dezeen.com