Some public spaces, whether urban or tourist-oriented, experience low footfall and only marginal use. The quiet challenge for contemporary urban planning — and for operators of hotels, resorts and shopping centres — lies precisely in restoring activity to these areas without resorting to structural works or lengthy tendering processes. With this in mind, and approaching the issue from a new perspective, Amusement Logic has developed an innovative line of installations: UrbanWave urban water parks.
UrbanWave parks are not enclosed themed attractions, but systems for the immediate transformation of public space. Water, with its capacity to alter the environmental and social conditions of a place, ceases to be a secondary element and becomes a fundamental material. It does so through its different states and varied forms: as mist or vapour, or in liquid form; as vertical curtains, jets from ground-level nozzles, or shallow sheets.
UrbanWave urban and tourist spaces create a controlled microclimate within their surroundings. The reduction of ambient temperature, the musicality of flowing water, acoustic dampening and the creation of dynamic visual barriers are measurable effects, extending beyond the subjective perception of individuals. At the same time — and unlike conventional ornamental fountains — UrbanWave does not prevent citizens from occupying and using the space.
UrbanWave consists of prefabricated structures installed directly onto existing paving. No groundworks, underground pipework or modifications to urban street furniture are required. This feature enables installation in almost any city square or street, on hotel terraces or in shopping centres, without interfering with the normal operation of the location. From assembly to commissioning, the process is measured in days.
From a formal perspective, the structures that define UrbanWave adopt continuous curved geometries, with sections that house the hydraulic circuit within their own structure. The absence of deep water eliminates the risk of immersion and, therefore, any requirement for supervision or zoning-off. This facilitates integration into environments with a strong presence of children or heavy pedestrian flows.
Modular prefabrication allows each intervention to be adapted to the scale of its setting. A single element can function perfectly as a recognisable landmark; linear series create an active vanishing point within a perspective; rhythmic sequences articulate routes. In every case, the soft, sculptural presence of the ensemble’s markers does not compete with the existing architecture. On the contrary, it establishes a formal dialogue based on the lightness and transparency of water.
Amusement Logic covers the entire implementation cycle of UrbanWave projects: feasibility studies, design, detailed engineering — structural and hydraulic — manufacturing, supply of specific equipment and on-site execution. This comprehensive service is particularly suited to clients without specialised technical departments for unconventional solutions: municipal managers, hotel and resort operators, shopping centre managers, and others.
The ultimate objective of UrbanWave public and tourist parks is to restore use to squares that have lost their function, stimulate activity in seasonal tourism spaces, and offer travellers and citizens alike a reason to remain in the public realm.
