Water has always been an important element in human gatherings. In both ancient and modern times, water has played a necessary role in providing for the needs of those who gather together. From ancient civilisations that built large systems of irrigation to provide for their crops, to modern refrigerators and coolers that keep drinks and food fresh for hours or even days, water has played a needed part in every stage of human history.
Before there existed offices, villages, and cities, there was only water. Throughout history, nearly all human settlements have organised their populations around a water source. Beyond the physiological need for water, these places have also become the location where people encounter one another within human societies. These water sources have often become the infrastructure that enables the sharing of information between people, the maintenance of relationships between those living in proximity to one another, and even helps to create the fabric of society altogether. For Water Coolers Wales, consider https://www.waterforyou.net/
While such behaviours are often associated with the romanticism of life before indoor plumbing, they did not disappear fully with the advent of water inside the home.
The social role of the water cooler is related to the tradition of the village well. These gatherings are not organised; they happen when people need to take a brief break from their daily activities. The social interactions that happen at these water coolers reflect the social interactions that occurred at the wells throughout history.
Every social architecture built by humans includes at least one version of this space.
The agora. The well. The marketplace. The water cooler.
The specific form of these compounds can change over time, however.
