From droughts to floods: The new exhibition at the Museum für Gestaltung Zurich explores how design, architecture, art and science can address the global water crisis. More than 65 projects show creative ways to a sustainable future.
Sometimes there’s too much of it, sometimes too little; sometimes it’s clean, sometimes it’s polluted: water. How we manage this vital resource is likely to determine the survival of humanity and the future of planet Earth. The term ‘water crisis’ is now widely used, underlining the urgency of responsible water management as one of the greatest challenges of our time.
The exhibition ‘Water: Designing for the future’ at the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich, which runs from 29 November to 6 April 2025, showcases innovative design ideas and solutions for the sustainable and responsible use of water. Featuring some 65 projects from the fields of design, architecture, art and science, the exhibition addresses pressing issues such as water scarcity, flooding, inadequate sanitation systems and disrupted water cycles.
Previously on show at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, the exhibition is divided into five chapters. The first chapter, ‘Water Stories’, begins with a chronology of water from ancient civilisations to the present day. This section uses a collage of stories and objects to explore our deep connection with water and its role in different cultures and eras.
The chapter ‘Bodily Waters’ focuses on water as the foundation of life, highlighting its essential role inside and outside the human body. Innovative solutions such as a fog collector and alternative concepts such as dry toilets are presented.
‘Invisible Water’ shows how some 85% of the world’s fresh water is used for food production, livestock farming, energy generation and the manufacture of everyday products such as clothing, electronics, cars and building materials. This chapter presents new approaches aimed at systemic change.
The fourth chapter, ‘Thirsty Cities’, examines the water management strategies of selected cities in different climate zones, including Chennai, Lagos, Mexico City and Zurich.
Finally, ‘Ecosystems’ looks at the long-term impacts of human activities on nature, such as damming rivers, draining wetlands and extracting groundwater. It also presents alternative approaches, such as waste barriers to clean polluted rivers in Indonesia and underwater structures to reduce beach erosion. These solutions aim to demonstrate how ecosystems can be protected and regenerated through sustainable and creative initiatives.
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