Introduction
Uncommon Waters — a look at fire hydrants and standpipes around the world.
Throughout history, humans have sought to protect their cities from fire.
Quick and easy access to water has always been essential. From buckets to aircraft, the technical means have evolved considerably.
The modern response is the creation of a network — generally underground — with distribution points leading to buildings or into public space, resulting in millions of fire hydrants across the planet.
Faced with an identical functional need, human imagination has produced a remarkable diversity of forms in the design of these hydrants — sometimes even in the way inhabitants appropriate them.
During my travels, I enjoyed spotting the signs that universality and individuality can coexist, often beautifully.
From one culture to another, it is fascinating to observe the variations between “functional uniformity” and more or less exuberant originality.