Sofia drinking fountain Pitná fontána by Dragomir Suka

Sofia drinking fountain Pitná fontána by Dragomir Suka is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2018 Železná cena A' Design Award in Městský mobiliář Competition Category.

ŽelezoMěstský mobiliář· 2018

Sofia drinking fountain Pitná fontána

by Dragomir Suka

Client: Identity

Železná cena A' Design Award Winner in Městský mobiliář Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Sofia drinking fountain Pitná fontána

Sofia je pitná fontána navržená pro veřejné prostory. Její minimalistický kruhový tvar vytváří centrální prostorový akcent. Voda proudí z horní části, určené pro lidi, přes žlábek do spodní mísy, určené pro zvířata. Nepřetržitý průtok udržuje vodu v míse pro zvířata čerstvou, zatímco přebytečná voda odtéká přes mřížku do městské infrastruktury. Tlačítko uvolní stanovené množství pitné vody. Fontána je přístupná pro uživatele invalidních vozíků a je opatřena hmatovým braillským označením pitné vody. Tělo fontány je odlito z bronzu.

The Recognition

About the Železná cena A' Design Award

Sofia drinking fountain Pitná fontána je vítězem Železné ceny A' Design Award, prestižního uznání udělovaného dobrým designům, které splňují profesní a průmyslové požadavky očekávané od dobře navržených výtvorů. Železní vítězové prokazují velké dovednosti, vysokou specializaci, odborné porozumění a tvůrčí kapacitu svých tvůrců. Očekává se, že Sofia drinking fountain Pitná fontána bude vysoce ceněným, obdivovaným a oblíbeným výtvorem, který je praktický a inovativní. Tento design, který získal Železnou cenu A' Design Award, integruje osvědčené postupy odvětví a má kompetentní technické vlastnosti spojené s know-how a talentem. Sofia drinking fountain Pitná fontána je vážen pro svou důkladnost a je navržen tak, aby poskytoval zlepšení kvality života, která pomáhají činit svět lepším místem.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Sofija - drinking fountain offers a design with central spatial accent through a powerful but minimalist line form. Minimalist design in a unique way allows all users an equally easy access to the drinking water in the public space. Characteristic is the water decant through the trough from the upper part, intended for people, to the lower part, intended for animals. This way water is always refreshed in the animal bowl with excess water being spilled over to the bottom of the fountain and from there into the infrastructure.
Dimensions & Packaging: Sofija - drinking fountain dimensions 1170 x 400 x 1000 mm.
Tags: drinking fountain, drinking water, wheelchair users, sight impaired, animal bowl
Production Technology: First 3D wood models of individual cast mold for casting various parts are created following the computer model, with the CNC milling machine. Second, a classic casting of bronze is performed in already prepared molds. Casted parts are bristled and vibrated with special plastic sockets to obtain a smooth surface.
Fountain Elements:
- a round shaped base that connects the fountain with the municipal infrastructure
- casted body with the animal bowl that has water flow system to maintain water quality
- drinking water sign with tactile-touch on braille
Design Challenge: Biggest designers challenge is the realization of the practical design. In the time where profit is the key ingredient, it's difficult to design for general social needs or to incorporate design into a practical and useful application with a human note. While creating this design I wanted to create a contemporary, urban, ergonomic product of high aesthetic value. The possibility of realization depends not only on the design but also on the decision makers and the series of legal assumptions - choosing the location, various permissions, necessary infrastructure, quality contractor...
Research: After I came up with the idea of dealing with the solution for a drinking fountain I studied the current solutions in the world. The research has shown that there are a large number of different and already realized forms, but there is no solution similar to the proposed one. Many solutions, in my opinion, do not have essential ergonomic values, multifunctionality, stylistic features, appropriate material..
The goal has been to design a multifunctional fountain that will attract passersby and consumers with its design, which will fit into different public spaces and last in time and space.
Inspiration: Public space where I live has only one drinking fountain that is out of function. Urban environments deserve public access to free drinking water as a standard of the modern civilization. Cupped hands and circle were primary inspiration for the shaping of the Sofia drinking fountain. Circle, as the ideal form gave the design a recognizable and unique form where larger (cupped hands) form in the base transcends into a smaller form on the top following circle radius.
Project Duration: Project started in July 2016 in Karlovac (Croatia) and was exhibited in Ars Publicae in September 2016 in Zagreb (Croatia).
Operation Flow: By pressing the button a certain amount of drinking water is released. The water continues its visible path through the fountains to the animal bowl. Its multifunctionality is manifested in the facilitated access for the wheelchair users, people with a visual impairment (drinking water sign with tactile-touch braille), pets and feral animals through a dedicated bowl at the bottom. Bowl has a grid-shaped form to drain excessive amounts of water. Foundation panel can be used as a place for city emblem, city name or text indicating it's drinking water.
Team Members: Designer: Dragomir Šuka
3D Visualization: Predrag Šuka
Marketing: Nemanja Šuka
Image Credits: Image #1: Design: Dragomir Šuka / Illustrator: Predrag Šuka, 2017.
Image #2: Design: Dragomir Šuka / Illustrator: Predrag Šuka, 2017.
Image #3: Design: Dragomir Šuka / Illustrator: Predrag Šuka, 2017.
Image #4: Design: Dragomir Šuka / Illustrator: Predrag Šuka, 2017.
Image #5: Design: Dragomir Šuka / Illustrator: Predrag Šuka, 2017.