P R O J E C T

The Municipality of Pomáz, Hungary, issued a creative tender for the design and full implementation of an artistic public drinking fountain. In this competition, I submitted my concept. After discussing the visual elements of the mosaic, the Board of Representatives ultimately made a decision via resolution. They chose the anamorphic drinking fountain with the theme "King Louis the Great's Visit to the Cikó Manor House."

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The custom-designed drinking well illustrates a significant local historical event from the mid-14th century. It brings to life an old written memory by creating a panoramic equestrian scene, which I sketched in graphite. The final piece blends traditional artistic techniques, such as anamorphosis and glass mosaic. More than 50,000 mosaic tiles form the walkable surface surrounding a reflective mirror cylinder. This cylinder serves as the well, and its surface reflects the mosaic layout, creating an interpretable circular panorama image. The mosaic is supported by a removable plate, allowing for the possibility of replacing it with plates featuring other graphic content. The ornamentation seen in the corners of the square plate serves not only as a decorative element but also functions as a working QR code. Scanning this QR code directs viewers to the project's website, where they can find additional information about the creation and its historical background.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION

As we approach the fountain, feeling like thirsty visitors, we can already see from a distance an extraordinary plasma-like floor mosaic, with a spotless, gleaming steel cylinder positioned atop it. As we get closer to the object, the equestrian panorama on the surface of the cylinder becomes clearer and more distinct. The optimal viewing angle for appreciating the graphics is about two meters from the center of the fountain, so we move into position just before stepping onto the mosaic. Walking around the well at the edge of the mosaic, we observe the circular image on the cylinder.

CREATIVE / RESEARCH CHALLENGE

The standard height for a public drinking fountain is approximately 900 mm. At this height, the diameter of the mirror cylinder should be between 300 mm and 400 mm. This range provides an optimal viewing angle for interpreting the graphics on the cylinder's surface while ensuring the mirror image is sufficiently large. As the mosaic area increases, the viewing angle decreases.   Additionally, the portability and interchangeability of the mosaic sheets are important factors, which limits the maximum area to 4 square meters. The size, color, and grout of the mosaic tiles significantly impact the quality of the mirror image. All these parameters are closely interconnected and must be harmonized; if any one of them is out of sync with the others, it can distort the image.   Although the range in which all conditions are satisfied is quite limited, I was able to find it through extensive measurements and tests.