Created with Studio Douze Degrés, Salomon's Water Fountain transforms an everyday utility into a public space where design, movement and community naturally come together.
When we think about outdoor innovation, we usually think about lighter shoes, stronger fabrics or more advanced equipment.
Salomon's latest project goes in a completely different direction.
Instead of launching another trail shoe or technical apparel collection, the French brand has collaborated with Paris-based design studio Studio Douze Degrés to reinterpret one of the most overlooked pieces of urban infrastructure: the public drinking fountain.
At first glance, it appears almost unexpected.
A 3.5-metre-high illuminated fountain fitted with twelve drinking taps doesn't immediately resemble an outdoor product. Yet it perfectly captures something that has always existed at the heart of outdoor culture—the importance of places where people naturally come together.
Originally unveiled during Yardland Festival, the structure was never intended as a one-off installation. Designed as a travelling architectural object, it will accompany future Salomon events, bringing free drinking water into spaces where sport, design and culture intersect.
Its purpose extends far beyond hydration.
For Studio Douze Degrés, the fountain represents something cities have slowly lost over time. Public fountains were once places where people paused, met friends, exchanged conversations and became part of everyday urban life. Over the years, many disappeared or became little more than forgotten pieces of infrastructure.
The Water Fountain asks a simple question:
What if something as ordinary as drinking water could once again become a reason for people to gather?
That idea feels surprisingly relevant.
Modern cities encourage constant movement. We walk faster, scroll endlessly and rarely stop unless we absolutely have to. By offering free drinking water through an object designed to attract rather than disappear, Salomon creates a reason to pause—even if only for a minute.
The installation also quietly addresses sustainability.
Instead of promoting reusable bottles through advertising, it gives people a practical reason to refill them. Sustainability becomes an everyday habit rather than another campaign slogan.
What makes the project particularly compelling is its restraint.
There are no interactive screens, no augmented reality experiences and no complex digital systems. Just clean water, thoughtful design and a public object that invites interaction instead of demanding attention.
It's a reminder that the most meaningful ideas often emerge from improving something that already exists.
In many ways, the Water Fountain says as much about Salomon's evolving identity as it does about contemporary urban life. Increasingly, the brand isn't only designing equipment for movement—it's designing environments that support the communities built around it.
ZONTRAC Verdict
The Salomon Water Fountain proves that innovation doesn't always come in the form of a new product. Sometimes it's about rethinking the spaces between products—the places where people meet, pause and connect. Together with Studio Douze Degrés, Salomon has transformed one of the city's most ordinary objects into something surprisingly meaningful. It's not just a fountain. It's a new kind of trailhead for urban outdoor culture.