Cooling parks and city centres.
High-pressure misting in the public realm — cooling arches, misting columns and sculptural installations for squares, playgrounds, promenades, bus stops and markets. A strategic response to urban heat islands: local felt-temperature drop of 8–12 °C, public safety during heatwaves, higher-quality public space. Collaboration with municipalities, landscape architects and public clients.
Misting systems for parks, squares and city centres — urban adiabatic cooling
A city that doesn't cool overnight.
Slovenian cities — Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Koper, Novo mesto — record surface temperatures of asphalt and concrete above 55 °C during summer heatwaves and nighttime cooling that lags the countryside by several hours. This is the urban heat island (UHI). Green spaces help but are a slow remedy — a tree planted today cools only in ten years. High-pressure misting is an immediate, tactical, localised response.
cooling arch in a square
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from the storksarch archive
Public-health argument
Heatwaves are Europe's deadliest extreme weather event. For the elderly, infants and chronically ill, the risk of heat stroke peaks between 2 PM and 6 PM — exactly when people move through public space. A cooled walk to the bus, a cooling arch in front of a shop, or a misting installation on a playground are concrete public-health infrastructure.
Experiential value
Mist in the public realm isn't only a technical measure — it's also a recognisable design element. Children love it, photographers seek it out, passers-by stop. A well-designed installation becomes an orientation point for the city and part of its summer identity.
Five public scenarios.
Each public space has its own requirements around user density, accessibility, maintenance and vandal resistance. The five most common typologies:
Cooling arch over benches and promenades
A linear structure over a path or walk — seaside promenades (Portorož, Izola, Koper), Ljubljana's Tivoli park, city streets with little greenery. Nozzles in the arch's upper profile; water fully evaporates above pedestrians' heads.
Sculptural misting columns
Vertical structures — from minimal metal posts to expressive sculptural objects. Mist enters from the top and along the sides, creating a cloud around the column. Placed in squares, on playgrounds and in front of public buildings.
Playgrounds and water play
The most popular installation type. Low-pressure mist, safe materials, slip-resistant ground. Children cool down through active interaction; the UV-sterilised water is hygienically safe for daily exposure.
Bus and train stops
Covered shelters with nozzles embedded in the ceiling structure. Control via a presence sensor — the system turns on only when someone is waiting. Particularly valuable for elderly travellers during heatwaves.
Markets and covered public spaces
Central markets (Ljubljana, Maribor), covered passages and open sports halls. The system cools the space and additionally helps keep fruit and vegetables fresh on the stalls.
With architects, not past them.
Public space is a design matter. Every installation is developed together with a landscape architect or designer — the municipal client or collaborator. Our role is to make sure the system's technical requirements (tubing, water, control, vandal resistance) are integrated consistently into the design language of the place.
sTorks Architecture
We collaborate with the sTorks Architecture atelier (storksarch.com) — a reference studio for public and private installations in Slovenia.
Public tenders
We prepare the technical documentation, bill of works and project drawings for tenders by municipalities, state institutions and EU-funded projects (URBACT, Horizon Europe, NextGenerationEU).
Pilot installations
For municipalities trying the technology for the first time we organise temporary pilot installations (1 season). After the pilot, the system is adapted for permanent installation.
Robust for public space.
Public systems have stricter requirements than private ones: vandal resistance, IP protection, child safety, long-term maintenance.
| Typical cooling arch | 6 m span, 24–32 nozzles |
|---|---|
| Typical misting column | 3.5 m height, 16 nozzles |
| Nozzle | Stainless steel, 15 μm, anti-drip |
| Tubing | 11 mm, embedded in profile, vandal-protected |
| Pump | STOM 1.5–4 kW, IP54 enclosure |
| Filtration | 50 μm + 1 μm + UV (per public-water standards) |
| Control | Temp sensor + schedule · GSM / SCADA · manual switch |
| Material | Stainless steel, powder-coated · any RAL on request |
| Compliance | CE · MD · IP54 · drinking-water standards · playground safety EN 1176 |
| Warranty | 2 years · service 10+ years |
Process for municipalities
Concept design
Together with the landscape architect we prepare a concept design with visualisation and an effect estimate.
Technical documentation
We produce detailed-design / executive-design / bill-of-works documents for inclusion in the public tender or municipal budget.
Construction and commissioning
On-site execution in 8–14 weeks from approved documentation, including water and electrical connection.
Maintenance
Annual service visit, remote monitoring, in-season response time 48 hours.
"On the day the installation was switched on, the children left the play equipment and moved into the mist. That was the best sign the project worked."
Municipal project · Notranjska · 2023Questions from municipalities and architects.
What is the urban heat island and how does misting help?
The urban heat island is a phenomenon where city centres are 3–7 °C warmer than surrounding countryside due to asphalt, concrete and lack of greenery. High-pressure misting on public surfaces locally lowers felt temperature by 8–12 °C and works as a tactical measure during heatwaves.
Is the system suitable for playgrounds?
Yes. Cooling arches on playgrounds are among the most successful installations — children love them, while providing safety against heat stroke. Water is UV-sterilised, 15 μm droplets fully evaporate, ground stays dry. Compliant with EN 1176 (playground safety).
How does the system integrate with public infrastructure?
It connects to existing water and electrical networks. The control unit is vandal-protected and operates automatically by outdoor temperature and schedule. Remote monitoring via GSM or the municipal SCADA is possible.
What happens in winter?
The system runs from April to October. Before winter we drain and air-blow the tubing. For permanent installations in covered structures (bus stops, covered markets) we can provide heated tubing and year-round operation.
Can the design be customised?
Yes. Together with landscape architects and designers we prepare design proposals — from restrained cooling arches over benches to sculptural misting installations that become a recognisable part of public space. We collaborate with sTorks Architecture (storksarch.com).
What is the water consumption?
A typical cooling arch uses 1.2–2 L/min, a misting column 0.8–1.2 L/min. Over an 8-hour day interleaved with interval operation (40 % active time), daily use is typically under 0.5 m³ — less than washing one car.
How does public procurement work?
We prepare the detailed-design / executive-design / bill-of-works documentation that the municipality includes in the public tender. After contractor selection we are available as equipment supplier or as the construction contractor's subcontractor.
Further areas of use.
Let's prepare a concept design for your site.
Municipalities, landscape architects, public clients — describe the location, area and expected implementation date. We'll prepare a concept design, a cost estimate and technical documentation for the tender.