Architect Arthur Mamou-Mani has been named the winner of the Shaping Water design competition – a collaboration between Dezeen, Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard.
His winning entry, Harmonic Tides, is a striking installation inspired by the movement of water. It was unveiled earlier this week as part of Clerkenwell Design Week, beneath the historic arch of St John’s Gate.
The design features two flowing, wave-like walls made from 3D-printed modules, mimicking natural water patterns such as ocean spirals and river eddies.
The structures are made from sugar-based PLA – a compostable bioplastic derived from renewable resources – and were printed at Mamou-Mani’s east London studio.
In line with circular design principles, the modules have been reused and reconfigured from earlier projects, significantly reducing the energy and materials required.
Described by Mamou-Mani as a “water corridor”, the installation is brought to life with animated LED lighting and a gentle soundscape that echoes the rhythms of water.
The result is a calm and immersive experience for visitors to pause, reflect and engage with the theme of water’s transformative power.
The Shaping Water competition invited architects and designers to propose a bold installation that celebrated water’s aesthetic and functional qualities.
The judging panel, which included representatives from Ideal Standard, Villeroy & Boch and Dezeen, selected Harmonic Tides for its beauty, innovation and poetic expression of flow.
Jason Cadman, our Head of Specification, said: “Our shaping water competition in partnership with Dezeen brought over 200 entries from 39 countries. The engagement and exposure of our brand in the architect and design community has been incredible.
“The winner used sound and light to bring the design brief to life in an immersive and sustainable way, drawing significant attention. The prominent position and architecture of St Johns Gate gave us a fantastic space for people to interact with our brand, and the perfect setting as the arch illuminated beautifully into the evening.”