Year: 2025
Client: Shaping Water by Dezeen / Villeroy & Boch / Ideal Standard
Status: Competition
Collaborated: Kay Tu
Type: Art Installation
At the historic site of St John’s Gate, “Echoes of Rain” reimagines rainwater harvesting as an elegant fusion of function and art, past and present, nature and city. While stormwater collection is increasingly integrated into modern architecture through rooftop harvesting and bioswales in new public spaces, how can we sensitively capture rainwater within a historic urban fabric, preserving its character while enhancing its ecological potential? More than a practical intervention, this installation explores how the flow of water can become a catalyst for transformation, fostering wellbeing, awareness, and a deeper connection to the rhythms of nature.
As raindrops land on the glass petals, they create a symphony of sounds, each note shaped by the rhythm of the rain, forming an ever-changing orchestra of water. Passersby can observe the flowing streams, offering a moment of stillness amid the city's pulse. By night, concealed lighting beneath the glass petals illuminates the movement of water, casting water caustics onto the soffit of the historic arched structure of St John’s Gate. These shifting waves transform the space into a meditative sanctuary, where the presence of water becomes both visual and immersive. More than a functional system, “Echoes of Rain” invites passersby to see, hear, and feel water in new ways, encouraging them to reconsider its significance beyond utility and embrace its poetic, ephemeral beauty.
As cities grapple with the growing challenges of water scarcity and urban resilience, “Echoes of Rain” highlights the urgent need for designs that harmonise built and natural systems. By reinterpreting rainwater as both a resource and an artistic medium, this installation reimagines our relationship with water in the public realm. Positioned at the intersection of history and innovation, it serves as a reminder that water is more than just a necessity. It is a storyteller, a sculptor of space, and a force that continuously gathers the community.