Water curtain barriers and dynamic floor fountains
Scorzè, Venice

Via Roma in Scorzè, marked over time by stylistic transformations and abandonment that obscured its historical identity, is being revived, becoming the heart of an urban regeneration project. The reorganization of the road system and the removal of heavy traffic have restored the center's potential as a human-scale urban space.
The symbolic element of the new street is water: a light, continuous flow that recalls the vocation of "Scorzè, city of water." It is enhanced by dynamic floor fountains and water curtain barrier, with greenery and bright furnishings that complete the image of a contemporary boulevard, the new city "liston". This project redesigns the face of the center and restores its identity. A regenerated, beautiful, and welcoming space becomes a shared heritage.
Commissioned by Adriastrade s.r.l., Forme d'Acqua oversaw the design and construction of the MEP parts for the fountains: two water curtain barriers and four dynamic floor fountains.
Each water curtain barriers consists of 32 nozzles, installed on a tubular collector powered by 3 dynamic pumps, which allow for the programming and creation of dynamic displays, directly controlling the height and intensity of the jets, creating a curtain of water that can rise up to 1.2 meters high. These gates are "water deterrents", a design feature designed to prevent traffic from entering when the street is pedestrianized. The water curtain barriers were designed with a load capacity of 400 kN, making them suitable for vehicles and trucks. The collector is installed in an in-ground tank with an AISI 316L steel frame, fully accessible for inspection and vehicle traffic. The upper section is lined with steel manholes with calibrated holes that house the nozzles and lighting fixtures, blending into the surface while ensuring robustness and aesthetic discretion.
The scenic lighting is provided by eight latest-generation RGB+White LED spotlights, with glass and AISI 316L steel bodies treated with nanotechnology to ensure maximum protection from oxidation and limescale deposits. DMX technology not only allows for highly intense and versatile color rendering, but also for dynamic control of the light effects, combining energy efficiency and visual quality. The result is a system capable of combining engineering precision, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal, transforming the fountain into a true urban device of light and movement.
The four dynamic floor fountains are the protagonists of two complementary urban settings: on Via Treviso, two linear installations, each punctuated by five water jets, create a symmetrical design that accompanies and organizes the space, while on Via Venezia, the two fountains follow a different rhythm, one with six and the other with four nozzles.
These four fountains were created using a system of underground boxes in AISI 316L steel, one for each jet, which house the dynamic pump, nozzle, and LED spotlight. The upper section is accessible and covered with the same material as the surrounding paving, creating visual harmony.
As evening falls, the water features blend with light: RGB+White LED spotlights transform the jets into luminous waves capable of modulating color and intensity, creating a captivating, ever-changing, and ever-living nocturnal landscape for the city.
The fountains are equipped with a filtration and recirculation system that continuously recovers and reuses the same water. The water is filtered and automatically balanced for pH and Redox levels thanks to an automatic panel with a double dosing pump, a control probe, and automatic in-line refilling.
The new street has no changes in level or barriers and can be transformed into a pedestrian area during events, thanks in particular to the main feature of the floor fountains, which, when turned off, transform the area into a walkable and pedestrian-only area.
 
Design: Studio Negri & Fauro Architetti Associati
Contracting company: Adriastrade s.r.l.
Photo: Eduardo Espichán