wonderwater Beijing Design Week application design by students at the Aalto University, Helsinki
Photos by Aino Huovio
The wonderwater initiative is aimed at raising awareness of global water issues and design for a sustainable future. The wonderwater programme for World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 will manifest in a continual flow of water-related events, exhibitions and workshops that will illuminate the significance of water’s role in the everyday lives of people from all around the world.
Wonderwater Frozen Lights was a dramatic installation of ice lanterns in Helsinki’s Senate Square to celebrate the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012, Finland. The display aimed to help raise awareness of the water footprint. Two massive ice blocks from Lapland each represented the water footprint of 3 873 litres used daily per person in Finland, while 150 litre ice lanterns represented the domestic use per person in Finland.
Illuminating the darkest season of the year, Wonderwater invited designers and architects to sculpt lanterns on site. The designer teams included: Artek Studio, Ilkka Suppanen, Team Brita Flander, Sebastian Jansson & MottoWasabi, Architect Group A6 and Team Aalto University. In the sprit of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 theme of openness and collaboration, the people of Helsinki were invited to participate by designing their own ice lantern and bringing it to the event.
