GROHE Water Research Prize 2025

Düsseldorf, October 30, 2025 – 2024 was the hottest year on record¹ — water scarcity has become a global reality, not a distant risk. By late May 2025, 40% of Europe was already officially in drought.² The urgency for innovative projects to address these global water challenges is greater than ever. Through the annual GROHE Water Research Prize at the World Architecture Festival (WAF), GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, recognizes and supports visionary initiatives worldwide.

This year, the £10,000 prize has been awarded to “Waterspaces” (Rizoma del agua), a project led by researcher Diego Rivero Borrell. Selected unanimously from a record number of submissions, the winning proposal tackles critical water scarcity in Mexico City through an innovative, community-based water-dispensing prototype.

Planned for implementation in Chimalhuacán, one of Mexico City’s most water-stressed municipalities, the project envisions a 530-square-foot community space built into existing sports areas. A submerged 10,000-liter tank will collect and store rainwater and groundwater, which will then be filtered via a five-stage solar-powered system to produce up to 23,000 liters of potable water annually.

The Waterspaces prototype will now move into development, with progress to be showcased at WAF 2025, taking place November 12–14 in Miami.

Since 2017, the GROHE Water Research Prize has supported innovative projects addressing global water challenges, ranging from access and security to sustainable management, underscoring GROHE’s commitment to driving positive impact through design and research.

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