Hydro-sphere is a series of modular aluminum planters designedby Ola Jakuć to introduce aquatic ecosystems into urbanenvironments. The project combines functional design with ecologicalthinking, creating objects that operate as small-scale livingsystems.
Each planter functions as a micro-habitat - supporting aquatic plantlife, improving air quality, and contributing to the cooling of itssurroundings through water evaporation. By fostering cross-speciescoexistence, Hydro-sphere reimagines urban space as an environmentshared between human and non-human actors. The project was developed in collaboration with Centrala Studio(Małgorzata Kuciewicz, Simone De Iacobis) and with the support of Stanisław Płonowski from the Faculty of Biology at the Universityof Białystok, whose expertise informed the ecological functioning ofthe system.
Rooted in both artistic and historical research, Hydro-sphere drawson the legacy of Polish hydrobotany and the aesthetics of 1960s-70sconcrete planters, translating these references into contemporaryforms adapted to current environmental challenges. The modular systemallows for multiple configurations, accommodating different plantheights and spatial contexts.
The project is currently being further developed in a new iteration,expanding its ecological and spatial possibilities. Hydro-sphere was presented, among others, at Collectible 2025 inBrussels and Alcova 2025 during Milan Design Week. Rooted in both artistic and historical research, Hydro-sphere drawson the legacy of Polish hydrobotany and the aesthetics of 1960s-70sconcrete planters, translating these references into contemporaryforms adapted to current environmental challenges. The modular systemallows for multiple configurations, accommodating different plantheights and spatial contexts.
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