A washing station, a misting pergola, and an evaporation fountain Isabelle Daron, a designer with distinct views, presents suggestions for maximizing the usage of water in urban areas.

Isabelle Daëron
Isabelle Daëron


Isabelle Daron didn't hold out on asking the issue till the previous heat waves on our globe made water a key topic. This designer from Vanves, south of Paris, has spent more than 10 years researching ways to make water and people more intimately connected. 


Examples include rain fountains and scenography that promotes the preservation of natural settings. The designer says, "Reaching public space is what intrigues me. To react to requests for proposals, she established Studio Ida and surrounded herself with a staff. His ideas start to circulate slowly on the streets. Four instances.


The Aéro-Seine project resulted from Isabelle Daron's analysis of the Paris non-drinking water system. Due to the fact that Paris is one of the few cities in the world to have a circuit like this, which was constructed in the 19th century by engineer Eugène Belgrand (1810-1878). 


"The raw water is simply filtered through a grid after being withdrawn from the Seine and the Canal de l'Ourcq. It is utilized to irrigate parks and gardens and clean the streets, according to the creator. This prevents the waste of drinking water, which is more costly due to treatment and chlorination.


However, this network is outdated and unused. Isabelle Daron thus sought for new use for it, beginning with an evaporation fountain, in order to prevent its loss. The idea is straightforward: three valves on the ground allow water to escape, covering a porous surface 21 square meters in size and cooling the air as it evaporations. The winning gadget from the 2018 Pavillon de l'Arsenal Faire Design competition was set up at the base of some structures on rue Blanchard in the 20e arrondissement.


The Cleaning Station 


Another idea, called Aéro-Seine, was inspired by it and was designed to use raw water to clean communal areas in apartment complexes. The non-potable network was accessible in these buildings up until the 1990s, but it was gradually scaled back due to standards concerns. While we could certainly use it for cleaning, which would lower the cost of the renting, adds Isabelle Daron.


Inquiring about the concept, the social landlord Paris Habitat requested a standpipe from him for a building on rue Armand-Carrel in the 19e arrondissement.


According to the designer, "We conducted a study of uses with the caretaker, maintenance personnel, and gardeners." The finished piece, to be placed in 2021 and made of concrete and lacquered sheet metal, contains a 50-meter hose for cleaning trash cans and other containers. The bollard was decorated in colourful mosaic because Paris Habitat intended the outcome to communicate to the locals.


Unfortunately, Paris City Hall opted to utilize drinking water to clean the streets during the coronavirus outbreak instead of continuing the work of Belgrand. She too finds it difficult to return. The non-potable network's third segment is currently in danger of being shut down.


Arches of mist


Continuing their work with Paris Habitat, Isabelle Daron and her group spent this time at a housing development on rue Championnet in the 18e arrondissement. The social landlord desired to build shade structures in the backyard. "However, we discovered that the locals had made little effort to maintain this green area, while many, particularly the elderly, were suffering from the heat inside their houses. Therefore, "mist arches" was included. 


When the weather hits 28 degrees, they run in pre-scheduled time periods from May to September.The building, which was unveiled this year, is clad in intricately crafted sheet metal designs that resemble a pergola. They mimic the appearance of three different tree leaf kinds. This time, the project makes use of drinking water, which is required while it is raining. The misting uses 80 liters of water every day—"the equivalent of a fifteen-minute shower"—to operate.



Not all of Isabelle Daron's work is done in Paris. It replied to a request for proposals in Rennes to build a water mirror on Place Saint-Germain in the heart of the city. "The Buildings of France's architect placed several restrictions on us, including no volume and no color. We also had to use the granite from the area. Therefore, we suggested a "dry fountain" that consists only of water jets that emerge from the ground and without a basin. We had begun by learning about the area's past. 


There was formerly a meandering of the Vilaine. This is how the concept for pavement that undulates like a river's flow developed. In 2022, the fountain was officially opened."The locals are overjoyed, kids come to play there, and the traders are overjoyed. Additionally, this approach makes the area mobile, enabling a market to enter and establish itself.


Source: Telerama.fr

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