Water coolers are truly social areas. Places of gossip, leisure, and just decompressing from a long bout of working. So why is it that these coolers then look so utilitarian, so non-social? Designer Moreno Schweikle decided to give the humble cooler a visual upgrade, taking hints from popular cultural spots and hubs, dipping into Baroque and Neoclassical themes.
The result? Water coolers that look like legitimate landmarks. Styled to resemble gorgeous fountains seen in city squares. Created as a part of Balenciaga’s ‘Art In Stores’ initiative, these coolers can be found in select Balenciaga outlets scattered across the world. The Art In Stores project sees the fashion brand partnering with a variety of artists like Anna-Sophie Berger, Cayetano Ferrer, Nicole Wermers, Harry Nuriev, and Tobias Spichtig to name a few.
Designer: Moreno Schweikle
Morena’s pieces reimagine the water cooler entirely. The cooler’s blockish form gets turned into a Roman pillar with fountains on the side, as well as on top along with a crowning Cupid-esque statuette. The water circulates between these multiple fountains (as well as the standard taps on the front).
The beauty in Morena’s sculptures lies in the fact that they still utilize color schemes similar to those of a water cooler. Opaque white blocks or sheet metal blocks, with tinted blue transparent elements on top, resembling the same plastic found in water cans that mount vertically onto traditional coolers.
There’s immense attention to detail, as well as a brilliant balance between industrial and cultural themes. You look at Morena’s Spring Coolers and they look just like coolers, however, they’re different enough to wow you, and enchanting with the way they treat detail and water flow.
Here, the sculpture has multiple water streams on top, shooting inside a bowl that feels rather fountain-like. The water then travels down the upper bowl, and out through a series of statuettes tipping over water pots. The fountains have layers seen in the kind you’d find dotted across European cities and cultural hubs.
Even in being traditional, like the simple three-tiered fountain below, Morena finds ways to make details shine. The supports below the blue fountain elements have neoclassical stylings, looking enchantingly antique while still being your mundane, contemporary water cooler.
Notably though, these coolers aren’t meant to drink out of. They’re purely statement pieces, designed to work as art sculptures that circulate water through a closed loop. The tinted blue sculptures are made from PLA and PU resin, which aren’t food grade. They’re likely 3D printed and then finished in an acetone bath to give them the glossy marble-like texture seen on most actual fountains. That means the water is likely not suited for consumption – it does, however, make for a great statement piece – that’s if you’re rich (or confident) enough to step into a Balenciaga showroom!
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