Emirati designers unveil rocket-shaped 'space fountain' to celebrate recent missions

Group hope to capture the interest of developers and make their design a reality

A digital rendering in what the rocket fountain would look like in a public plaza. Courtesy: Space Fountain

Designers hope to catch the interest of developers. Courtesy: Space Fountain

The team behind the fountain. (L-R) Hamad Al Nuaimi, Sadeq Al Katheri, Muna Al Aidaros, Abdulaziz Al Mheiri and Salem Al Messabi. Victor Besa / The National

The group go over hand-sketched designs in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The group go over hand-sketched designs in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A group of Emirati designers created a space-themed fountain to celebrate the UAE's recent missions.

Five designers and engineers came up with the concept after the launch of the Hope probe in July.

The structure resembles the Japanese rocket that propelled the Emirati-built spacecraft into orbit, launching it on its 200-day journey to the Red Planet.

The team hope to draw the interest of developers and create a cultural landmark somewhere in the Emirates.

The main structure would be 30 metres in height, with water cascading below it as though it were steam from the rocket's engines.

We want to create a national and cultural landmark that celebrates the achievements of our country

“Our concept captures and mimics the moment the Hope probe vehicle launcher took off,” said Salem Al Messabi, 31, creative director at InspireTBB, based in Abu Dhabi's creative freezone TwoFour54.

“We started with the idea of drawing a mural on a wall and bringing out water from the wall, with some sort of mixed art instalment, painting and waterfalls.

“When we started researching and developing the concept of the fountain, we discovered a couple of floating water tap fountains, like the magic tap fountain in Ypres, Belgium. This optical illusion has brought us to think bigger."

Mr Al Messabi and friend Abdulaziz Al Mheiri came up with the space fountain design that incorporated the optical illusion.

“The water movement not only hides the structure inside but it also gives the illusion of the rocket being launched," he said.

“We want to create a national, cultural landmark that celebrates the achievements of our country in an innovative way and becomes iconic, like the Dubai Frame."

Mr Al Mheiri, 34, a plant manager at Shams Power Company in Abu Dhabi, said his role was to help study the fountain design from an engineering perspective.

“Saleh and I have the yin and yang combination, he takes care of the artistic part of it and I take care of the functional and realistic implementation of this project,” he said.

“My current job helps me not only to make this concept doable but also to take it a step further by making sure it follows the sustainability standards that we aspire to achieve.

“We developed a way to create the model from recyclable materials and to run the fountain partially by solar power."

The fountain's 3D model design was created by Muna Al Aidaros, 31, an Emirati interior designer at Minterno Design in Abu Dhabi.

“My role was to develop and design the 3D models of the interior, exterior design and the rocket,” Ms Al Aidaros said.

“The main challenge was time, because designing such heavy models takes a lot of time and we were trying to finish as many concepts as we could in a short time,” she said.

Sadeq Al Katheri, who takes care of the project's business development aspects, said the idea had grabbed the attention of government and private companies in the country.

“Most of the people who are contacting us are really excited and interested in this project.

“We are exploring the opportunities to include a knowledge centre about the space industry."

The team is still exploring rocket styles and whether lighting and music could be added.

On July 20, the Hope probe was blasted out of Earth's atmosphere on a Japanese H-IIA rocket before that was jettisoned and the probe began a solo journey to Mars.

The Hope probe has already covered 284.2 million kilometres of its 493.5 million-kilometre trip. It is currently travelling at a speed of 95,642 kilometres per hour.