Zulu Alpha Kilo, known for innovating the Tough Turban for Pfaff Harley Davidson and reimagining the school desk for online learning platform D2L, has released a beautiful new twist on a New York City tradition.
For more than 100 years, when the temperature pushes past 90 degrees, New Yorkers across the city have turned to neighbourhood fire hydrants in search of a little watery relief. However, the caps employed to spray the water have been rudimentary at best. Until now.
Zulu Alpha Kilo NY and non-profit, Street Lab, have introduced Splash Spots, a proposal for how New York City uncaps its hydrants during the hottest days of summer. Splash Spots are designed for maximum whimsy and water conservation, releasing approximately 50% less water than the standard hydrant spray cap – exciting and joyful build on the traditional caps the FDNY already uses.
The agency partnered with Street Lab, which aims to improve the urban environment, strengthen neighbourhoods, to help determine the four unique water experiences that would be most exciting and feasible. Each of the four Splash Spots is crafted for safety, durability and scalability. Attaching easily to the hydrant, each “spot” also comes with its own on/off function making them easier for the community to use. Splash Spot pays homage to something uniquely New York by doing something uniquely New York to it: reinventing it through creativity and ingenuity.
“Splash Spots were engineered to be pieces of art that you could really play with,” stated Colin P. Kelly, founder of Group Project, the industrial design partner that Zulu Alpha Kilo commissioned to turn its idea into a reality.
Splash Spot pays homage to something uniquely New York by doing something uniquely New York to it: reinventing it through creativity and ingenuity.
“These really are first of their kind. Splash Spots aim to bring joy, a smile and a little cool down, to everyone who comes across them,” stated Tim Gordon, chief creative officer and Partner of Zulu Alpha Kilo NY.
Ultimately the hope is to work with the city to take these from prototype to something much bigger.
“This is just the beginning–perhaps someday in the future Splash Spots will be available in every firehouse across the five boroughs,” Gordon added.
