The living Fountain
  Design Concept for 2124







The Artefact visualises and celebrates sovereign responses to community-sized problems.






It reflects a fundamental shift from centralised, commodified water systems toward more localised, ecologically integrated approaches.





The act of capturing and presenting pre-colonial creek water is a symbolic return to land-based water governance.


As an exhibition tool, the Artefact is not a passive object but an active agent that embodies the speculative design principles explored in my research. It offers a vision of a future where water management is a collective responsibility, and where design fosters stewardship rather than consumption.











REFLECTIONS


















Elizabeth Street is no longer just a road; it has transformed into a living example of how small changes can spark big shifts.

Native grasses and wetland plants thrive in what used to be concrete spaces. Policies that support urban greening and local stewardship, like unsealing surfaces and planting native vegetation, are part of a larger transformation of the city. Scattered ponds now provide water and habitats, honouring the land.

Condensation nets hang from colonial-era buildings, capturing water for the community. In this possible future, water is no longer controlled—it flows freely, shared by all. Cultural water rights have returned to Indigenous communities. At the same time, community-based water councils now manage local resources, shifting power from the state to the people. Communities gather at water basins, using ceramic vessels to care for one another. The street has become a space of connection, where water is not only for consumption but a reminder of our shared responsibility.

Elizabeth Street sets a new standard for Australia and beyond. Grounded in small, practical changes, it redefines our relationship with water. This future doesn’t just imagine a world where water is decolonised; it shows us how it can happen, one small step at a time.