Taipei City Government

A number of eye-catching drinking fountains have been installed at Taipei Stadium as part of Taipei Water Department (TWD)’s effort to increase accessibility to free tap water while seeking to enhance city aesthetics by injecting a dose of creativity into the public facilities.

The new units of bubblers, appearing in the form of five foundations comprising English letters W-A-T-E-R, are coated manually with hemlock planks to provide a natural look while drawing people’s attention. The installations help boost the aesthetic appeal of Taipei Stadium, which has seen 43 water fountains set up to accommodate the 2017 Taipei Universiade.

According to TWD, improvement of drinking fountains by adding different features and styles will help the facilities to blend into the surroundings of various localities. Regarded as a kind of street furniture, drinking fountains are designed not only to beautify the cityscape, but also to cater to the needs of users whether it be adults, children, or the physically-challenged.

The device should also complement the surroundings in a harmonious manner, be it parks, commercial districts, amusement parks, or cultural venues.

With this in mind, TWD commissioned a staff member with background in architecture and engineering to design the new bubblers. In addition to fixed ones, the designer has also developed six different types of mobile drinking fountains that can be easily dismantled and assembled. TWD invites the public to take notice of the fountains when quenching their thirst and discover the ingenuity involved in creating these amenities.