TapTop Wins London On Tap Competition!

A propos of yesterday's column about design-competitive countries, London mayor Boris Johnson is serious about supporting design at a local level. With his 2008 London On Tap competition he teamed up with London's Thames Water, to support London design as well as an ecologically important cause: drinking tap water instead of bottled water.

Several carafe designs made the short list, from the Connected Pipe by East End designer Nina Tolstrup....

... to the strongly iconic Tap by Adam White of London's Factory Design Ltd.

But it was TapTop by industrial designer Neil Barron that took top prize -- a drip-free, inverted rocket shaped carafe with a "tap top" that functions to prevent ice from flowing out with the water..

Mr. Barron won £5000 for the for his sustainable carafe design, and the city of London will produce the TapTops for sale this Spring to the hospitality industry. It is hoped that restaurants will use the TapTops to encourage their patrons to drink tap water instead of bottled water; London has one of the best drinking waters in the UK.

All profits from the sale of the TapTop carafes will go to WaterAid, a non-profit charity that provides vital water resources to some of the world’s poorest people.

Thames Water and the Mayor's office is also considering selling the TapTop carafes to individuals. If you might like one, check this link later in the Spring - Carafe Order.

London On Tap via My Favourite Things