You no longer need to travel to Japan to find the famous manhole covers with artistic designs. Madrid, to mark the 175th anniversary of the Canal de Isabel II, will also feature 50 custom manhole covers depicting images of dams and reservoirs in the capital.
It will be the first European city to adopt this artistic model typical of Japan, through which sewer covers will become part of the city’s urban culture, beyond their practical function.
The initiative is part of the program of activities proposed by the Community of Madrid to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Canal de Isabel II, highlighting its water management in the region and paying tribute to some of its historic sites.
Share the designs
The idea is not only to find the designs on the street, but also to photograph them and share them on social media. This practice, known as“drainspotting,”has become an international tourism trend and makes it easy to spread awareness of urban artworks.
According to Canal de Isabel II, a social media contest will be organized and a specific route will be created to locate the images. Although they have not yet announced when it will begin, they have revealed that“finding them will earn a prize.”
The largest press in the Community
The anniversary program includes 40 free activities for all ages, united under the slogan“We Drive Madrid’s Future.” Highlights include guided tours of the El Atazar dam, the largest in the Community of Madrid, which will also be depicted on the sewer covers.
This will allow residents to learn firsthand about Madrid’s historic water reservoirs and the sustainable management of this resource. In addition, the various municipalities in the region will organize their own exhibitions and educational activities.
A highlight is the exhibition by Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado at the Fundación Canal, featuring 100 works in which water takes center stage. The first Water Race bicycle tour will also be held, a route through the Madrid mountains that will pass by some of the most significant water infrastructure sites.
