water run interactive installation maps water cycles through tactile play and movement

Matyáš Barák builds Water Run interactive installation

The Water Run by Matyáš Barák is a large-scale interactive installation that translates the circulation of water into a mechanical and spatial system. Measuring 6 × 2 meters, the project is composed of a stainless steel track through which hundreds of wooden balls move, forming a continuous flow across a sequence of rotating segments.

The installation is structured around 21 movable elements, each representing a point where water pauses within its broader journey. These segments are grouped into three thematic environments: natural landscapes, historical sites, and contemporary urban contexts, mapping a range of locations where water is stored, redirected, or used. Wetlands, ponds, and peat bogs appear alongside mills, ironworks, monasteries, and castles, while additional segments reference everyday infrastructures such as washing machines and filtration systems.

Interaction is central to the system’s design. Each segment can be rotated, allowing visitors to alter the path of the moving balls and determine how the flow continues. This mechanism introduces variability into the sequence, transforming the installation into an open-ended spatial diagram shaped through physical input. The act of turning elements becomes both a functional operation and a playful gesture, linking movement, decision-making, and spatial understanding.

all images courtesy of Matyáš Barák

water run links play with water systems and infrastructure

Illustrated graphics integrated along the track provide contextual references for each segment, connecting the mechanical system to broader narratives about water distribution and use. The combination of tactile interaction and visual cues supports multiple levels of engagement, from intuitive play to more detailed observation.

Material contrast plays a defining role in the project by designer Matyáš Barák. The precision of the stainless steel structure is set against the organic quality of the wooden balls, establishing a relationship between engineered systems and natural cycles. The visible mechanics of the installation emphasize movement, gravity, and connection across the different elements.

The project was developed for the castle complex in Žďár nad Sázavou, where it forms part of a play-oriented interior environment. Within this setting, the installation operates as both an interactive object and a spatial model, using play as a means to explore the connections between landscapes, infrastructure, and everyday life.

the project translates water circulation into a mechanical system

hundreds of wooden balls move through the system

a stainless steel track structures the installation

the system is composed of 21 movable elements

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initial sketches

axonometric drawing

concept layout

illustrations

project info:

name: The Water Run

designer: Matyáš Barák | @matyasbarak

location: Žďár nad Sázavou, Czech Republic

commissioned by: Zámek Žďár with Zuzana Demlová

manufacturer: ACO Industries with Pavel Klepetko, Jiří Haberle

sponsored by: ACO Industries, Kraj Vysočina

illustrator: Radka Martincová

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom