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Hydro-centric house
Contents
3
arctic, oceanic, and space. Discover
Strategy #3
Tiny hairs covered with hydrophobic
LAP 1 wax crystals on the leafs also help the
leaves to capture water. The water
Identify wont stick and instead trickles down
the bumpy surface. This strategy takes
Houses dont typically dont store wa- advantage of material surface.
ter as any kind of central feature. Any
attempts toward storing water are with Strategy #4
post-construction add-ons like rain Tightly packed, concave leaves form a
barrels. Therefore typical houses are bowl at the center that stores water for
wasteful in water use and overly de- use by many organisms for many other
pendent on public infrastructure. functions. This strategy is an example of
both shape and system. The strategy
Interpret performs other functions as well -
providing ecosystem services and co-
What the house needs to do: operating within an ecosystem.
Capture & Store Liquid
These strategies are effective in that
4
Asknature.org
they allow the plant to thrive high in from adhering to the surface. Instead
trees or in desert areas where water or the filaments shuttle water along with-
nutrients are often scarce. out touching the actual surface.
There are patterns and similarities to 2. Tightly packed curving surfaces form
the strategies. It appears that all of the a cylindrical pool that fills with liquid.
Bromeliads strategies are support the (Fig. 1.3).
capture and storage of water at the
base in the center of the plant. 3. Convex and concave surfaces cap-
ture water and like a half-pipe or chute
The most compelling strategy in this lap shuttle it down into a central holding
was that tightly packed leaves form a tank (Fig. 1.5)
water reservoir that supports a variety
of functions for other organisms. 4. Radial, fan-shaped arrangement of
planes and surfaces increase likelihood
Abstract of capturing rain and moisture (Fig.
1.6).
1. Surfaces are bumpy and irregular
(Fig. 1.2). Microscopic filaments pro-
trude from each bump (Fig. 1.1). Fila-
ments increase in number as the curv- Emulate
ing surface descends toward the liquid
storage tank. Each filament is coated 1. The roof surface will be highly tex-
with wax crystals that keep moisture
5
6
tured; an irregular micro-relief of
bumps. This texture will cause moisture Strategy #1
to flow down the roof plane instead of Oases plays a crucial role for support-
being absorbed by it. ing life in harsh desert environments.
A community of organisms perform
2. Roof planes will be arranged in radial various functions around this life-giving
symmetry with main sections spaced source. Date palms play a vital role in
around the circle. A fan-shaped ar- protecting the water source from en-
rangement will increase potential for croaching sand that threatens to fill
capturing water. it in. The palms dont grow far away
and send roots all the way back to the
3. Roof planes will be made with water source. They grow up around the
compound curves: both concave water and in very close proximity.
creating a half-pipe chute that
causes all water to flow to the mid-
dle of each roof section, and convex,
curving down toward the atrium pool
in the center of the house.
LAP 2
Identify
Interpret
National Geographic
What the house needs to do:
Optimize Space & Material
Animals congregate around the
water hole with their various activities:
Discover
drinking, eating, washing, and clean-
ing. African elephants dont just bathe
For LAP 2 we focus on three strategies
or drink. They use their trunks to blow up
that have been identified in the
the sediment on the bottom of pools in
following examples:
order to take in important trace miner-
1. Desert Oases
als that are vital to their diet.
2. Bees
3. Human Skin
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This strategy is effective because they
use the minimum amount of wax to
create storage containers for their
honey.
National Geographic
National Geographic
The pattern that emerges from these
three strategies is the clustering, an-
This lends credibility to the idea of gular arrangement, and multiplicity of
clustering all water-related activities functions around a central source.
around the water source in the home.
The most compelling strategy from this
Strategy #2 lap was orienting activity around stored
Bees perform the function of optimal water in a central location.
arrangement in their cell construction
inside the hive. Three-way junctions of
120 provide the most economical use Abstract
of material, space, and structure.
The pool / tank supports several other
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vital water-related functions around Pelicans flying in groups adjust their
the water source other than just hold- spacing to minimize wind resistance.
ing water.
Strategy #2
Emulate Alpine Sandwort forms dense groups
which moderates a microclimate. In
1. The central pool will support a host of the case of this design project the
water-related activities: a central gar- retention of moisture is key. This
den for food and beauty, and washing cooperative strategy is achieved by
and cleaning in the kitchen, bath, and arrangement.
laundry area.
Strategy #3
2. Clusters will be arranged at 120 Tropical rainforests help retain water
angles for maximum efficiency around by interaction. Virtually no water is lost
the core. By clustering functions around because whatever water is not used by
a center point, a minimum amount one plant will be used by the next one
of piping would be required and the further down. The result is lush produc-
arrangement itself could lend structural tivity year round.
support.
Abstract
Interpret Emulate
What the house needs to do: Household members performing wa-
Cooperate within an eco-system & ter-related should adjust their timing
provide eco-system services. and habits to minimize water use (i.e.
washing clothes while washing bod-
Discover ies, incorporating more of a Japanese
method of bathing by scrubbing and
Strategy #1 rinsing before entering the bath, or
using hand-washing water to flush the
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toilet or water plants. Strategy #2
Two pairs of wings on flying insects work
Forming garden areas in dense groups together in unison by being linked in
around the water hole with a glass various ways: hooks, folds, or catches.
atrium roof above will help trap
moisture. Strategy #3
Grazing animals on the plains synchro-
The water system will recycle all grey- nize their foraging cycles to match
water, using water from showers and plant growth cycles.
sinks to wash clothes. Wash water will
be used for flushing toilets and water- Abstract
ing trees or pre-filtered for use in an
aquaponics system. A central location can house multiple,
coordinated, related activities.
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Interpret Incorporate an electronic control
system on the central storage tank to
What the house needs to do: ration water for use in the home. This
Distribute resources could work similar to a low-voltage dis-
connect in a PV system.
Discover
Evaluate
Strategy #1
Vascular and respiratory vessels in Because many of the functions and
mammals minimize the amount of work their corresponding strategies, ab-
required to operate by being arranged stractions, and emulations overlap the
in a hierarchy. design will be evaluated altogether
against Lifes Principles:
Strategy #2
Colonies of ants distribute food effec- Is the design locally attuned and
tively after famine using food dilution responsive?
and strategic food location within 1. The house responds to the presence
community. of local moisture, whether in the
form of rain or condensation.
Strategy #3 2. A sensor and shut-off valve that rations
Bromeliads capture water and support water during severe drought.
a small community with collected nutri- 3. A way to sense extremes in tempera-
ture and control sunlight accordingly
ents.
by changing the opacity of the atrium
dome.
Abstract
Does it incorporate feedback loops?
Delivery pipes minimize the amount of 1. A float and shut-off valve keeps the
work required to operate by incorpo- tank from overflowing.
rating branched hierarchy. 2. A low water level sensor stops the
pump from running dry.
A slowing of distribution and strategic 3. Low water level sensor may also shut
off access to some of the water com-
location help sustain a system despite
partments to keep water in reserve
limited resources. - as a rationing measure. (Similar to a
low-voltage disconnect on a deep-cy-
A central resource easily supports a cle battery)
variety of related functions.
Does it make use of free energy?
1. The design makes use of water as a
Emulate free natural resource and
2. It makes use of gravity to pull the wa-
1. Incorporate hierarchy in water deliv- ter down the roof surface and into the
ery so that primary water-related activi- pool.
ties get water first. 3. At present the design requires a tank to
maintain pressure. It might be possible
2. During times of severe drought, limit to position the tank higher in the air in
order to use gravity to create water
the amount of water that can be used.
pressure for water-related tasks below.
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2. All water-using appliances could com-
Is it resourceful and opportunistic? municate with one another about the
1. The house takes into account the amount of water being used.
opportunity that rain affords to gather 3. Within an aquaponics system, sensors
water. monitor the amount of oxygen and PH
2. Then the house stores it, and protects in the water and monitor temperature
from any loss due to evaporation. and light.
3. The house could capture moisture
generated by plants. Using an atri- Does it learn and imitate?
um dome, condensed water drop- 1. Perhaps a learning system could pro-
lets could be captured and direct- gram itself according to the patterns of
ed into central pool. use by the inhabitants or
2. Perhaps the same system would report
water consumption to residents encour-
Does it rely on shape rather than
aging adjustments in habits.
material?
3. Same type of system learns and
1. It uses shape and orientation (radial
symmetry around a central hub) to
mimics shade controls for the atrium
minimize material. dome based on daily and seasonal
2. The atrium dome is self-supporting. patterns and preferences.
3. A tension structure could be consid-
ered - one that uses bent bamboo Does the design integrate cyclic pro-
beams under tension. This could be cesses?
applied to the roof as well as walls. 1. It integrates the hydrological process
and the rainy season in desert climates.
Is it constructed of simple, common 2. It also integrates the carbon cycle in
building blocks? managing and recycling waste water
1. Locally harvested stone and earth will and compost within the aquaponics
be strongly considered - in the form of and garden areas.
rammed earth or compressed earth 3. On a practical level, washing clothes
bag. takes place at the same time as bath-
ing in order to reduce water consump-
2. Bamboo struts with engineered joints
tion.
create a modular system.
3. Shipping pallets could be consid-
Is the design resilient?
ered for upper walls - used in con-
1. De-centralized
junction with a panel substrate like 2. Redundant
strawboard. 3. Diverse
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tank into many separate compart- temps).
ments water could be protected. Even
if water is lost from one compartment, Does it fit form to function?
the others would remain intact. 1. The circular, central pool and radial
2. More than one roof surface to collect symmetry of the room / roof sections
water. are also examples of form following
3. More than one way to manage waste function.
water. 2. Roof sections are designed so that wa-
ter takes the path of least resistance.
Is it diverse? 3. To create water pressure without the
1. Diversity is only represented in the dif- need for a pump, the tank may need
ferent forms of water, whether rain or to be higher than the activities.
condensation.
2. It may also be represented by the veg- Does it recycle all materials?
etation grown in the gardens. 1. It recycles waste water - both gray wa-
3. Two different forms of waste water - ter and black water. Grey water is re-
gray water and black water. used to flush toilets, water trees. Water
is also cycled through the aquaponics
Does it represent cross-pollination and system from fish to edible plants and
mutation? back again. Black water is directed
1. Cross-pollination across technological through an engineered wetlands be-
applications, borrowing ideas from fore being released out into perimeter,
research stations and habitats in space non-edible landscape.
and in Antarctica. 2. Water from shower could be used to
2. Adaptation of the Roman Impluvium wash clothes at the same time (as
and atrium. demonstrated in the WashIt concept
3. May be possible to use material on the and Whirlpools Project F).
roof that changes on the micro-surface 3. Green waste is also composted for
level over time in order to adapt to the raised bed garden areas.
climate / conditions.
Does the design leverage interdepen-
Does the design optimize rather than dence?
maximize? 1. Residents depend on the water and on
1. The house optimizes by not collecting food grown within the house.
and storing the maximum amount of 2. Food relies on water to grow.
water possible, but only what it needs. 3. Residents must be active in capturing,
2. The rest of the water runs off into sur- storing, and distributing water to food
rounding gardens and spaces. sources.
3. Its also a house with a modest foot-
print, only big enough to provide the Does it foster cooperative relation-
needs of the inhabitants. ships?
1. There is a symbiotic relationship be-
Does it perform multiple functions? tween the residents and nature - water,
1. The roof also performs multiple func- plants, and fish.
tions: protection and collection. 2. There is cooperation amongst all wa-
2. The water performs many functions: ter-related activities and appliances to
cleaning and drinking (plants and peo- make the most use of the water that is
ple). available.
3. Storage tank holds water, protects from 3. The symbiotic experience would be
abiotic forces (i.e. puncture, freezing heightened if roof surfaces were trans-
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parent so that residents could watch or and exterior use.
water cascading down the roof. Also if 2. Lime plaster for water-proofing is also
the water dropped off the edge of the water-based.
roof creating a waterfall within reach of 3. Water-based sealants or wax.
residents from a sheltered ring around
the pool. Recommendations
Is the design using benign manufactur- 1. Consider incorporating sensors and
ing? valves that keep the tank from over-
1. If even partially constructed from flowing or running dry.
earth and stone (i.e. gabions, rammed
earth, or earth bag) the house could
2. Consider locating the tank higher in
be formed and shaped on site with no
waste and at ambient temperature. the air in comparison to water-related
2. If plastics are used, HDPE and ETFE activities in order to use gravity to cre-
are all that will be considered. Oth- ate water pressure. This would require
er non-petroleum alternatives will be tremendous support for the central
strongly considered. tank.
3. No materials that include formalde-
hyde will be used. 3. Build the foundation and lower por-
tion of the house using locally and
Does it use life-friendly materials? commonly available materials like rock
1. Partially constructed from earth and gabions. For the upper portion consider
stone (i.e. gabions, rammed earth, or a more modular factory-built system.
earth bag). Also consider large-diameter bamboo
2. Other materials could at least be
for bracing timbers.
life-friendly, containing post-consumer
recycled content and be fully bio-de-
gradable within one year. 4. Incorporate a learning system that
3. Pieces could also be designed to be programs itself according to the pat-
lightweight, modular, nesting and built terns of use by the inhabitants or re-
in a factory setting to practically elimi- ports water consumption to residents
nate waste. that would lead to changes in habits.
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Design Presentation tral pool to slow down water loss from
evaporation. A Japanese-style garden
will surround the pool and will be in-
terrupted by areas within the house
dedicated to water-related tasks like
bathing, washing, purifying potable
The focus of this design is more on the water, and growing food. All water will
water system of the house than the be recycled as many times as possible.
actual house itself. Which means that it
will focus on three primary functions: Water Use Stages:
1. Capture / store liquid 1. Rain water (as well as water from
2. Optimize space & material condensation both outside and inside)
3. Cooperate within an ecosystem will be collected in a central pool that
drains into a cistern underneath.
Some general points will also be men-
tioned. The house will be a relatively 2. Water will be filtered, purified, and
small footprint, roughly 1,200 sq. ft., pressurized through a system similar
with two bedrooms and one bath. The Michael Reynolds Water Organization
design of the house is such that three Module (WOM).
roofed sections are laid out in radi-
al symmetry around a central atrium 3. Potable water to be used for drink-
and pool. The roof surface captures all ing, washing in sinks (kitchen and bath-
forms of moisture (rain, dew, fog, snow) room) and bathing.
and directs the water down toward the
center where it collects in a pool. The 4. Grey-water from these activities will
overflow drains down into an under- be filtered and used again. Clothes
ground cistern below the pool. There washing may be combined with bath-
will be a glass dome above the cen- ing in some form (reference the Body-
15
Box by Project F Whirlpool and WashIt
design by four designers at Middle East
Technical University in Turkey). Other fil-
tered grey water will go to aquaponics
and vertical garden system. The last of
the grey-water will go to flush toilets.
16
Some inspiration for house and roof shape; and gabion treatments for load-bearing foundation
walls - from Norwegian design firm, Snhetta (http://snohetta.com/).
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may be considered. (ETFE was used
in the Beijing National Stadium during
Design Proposal the 2008 Olympics). More research is
needed on other plastic alternatives
including some starch-based plastics.
Recently, Wyss Institute has been work-
ing with a compound found in shrimp
shells to create a viable and benign
Until recently our paradigm for water plastic. Finally, nano-structured, slippery
and its use has been seriously flawed. surfaces are also being explored at
The scarcity of potable water is now Wyss Institute.
coming to the forefront and views are
shifting. In order to be truly sustain-
able, and by that I intend to include
the word resilient, our common, cen-
tralized, public water system needs to
change. The system as it is now places
home-owners in a position of being are
overly dependent on treatment plants
that are not based on redundancy
and as a result are vulnerable to failure.
The practice of piping water over long
distances from a centralized location Beijing Olympics 2008
is also wasteful and prone to failure.
On a social level, water-conscious Metals
lifestyles are often at odds with soci- The high recyclability and durability
ety views. Finally water conservation of stainless steel will make it a primary
measures tend to be add-on features choice for metal.
and half-hearted attempts. A system
is needed that focuses on deliberate Gabions
water conservation as a primary and Gabions, or steel mesh cages filled with
integral part of the design of the home. stone may be used form landscape re-
tention and load-bearing at the base.
Materials Needed
Earthen materials
Because of the comprehensive nature 12-inch minimum rammed earth or su-
of the project I will only give some gen- per-adobe (earth-filled bags) may be
eral opinions as to the materials intend- used for exterior walls though consider-
ed for the project. Finishes will not be ation must be given to those sections
discussed. that may be located underground.
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wire mesh coated with many layers of Design Improvements / Future
cement plaster. Aerated concrete may Exploration
also be applied using a pump and
gun. This method may be necessary to Valves, sensors, and smart system
get the compound curves needed in The design needs to incorporate sen-
the roof. sors and valves that keep the tank from
overflowing or running dry. It also needs
Bamboo a system that communicates and co-
Bamboo is a truly renewable material ordinates with water-related applianc-
and therefore will be preferred over es and reports water consumption to
wood, though engineered laminat- residents. Finally, the house will include
ed beams of scrapwood may still be an electronically controlled emergen-
needed. However, significant strides cy ration protocol in times of extreme
have been made recently in produc- drought. All of these measures will
ing laminated bamboo beams. protect the water supply and encour-
age residents to form good water-use
Glass habits.
Glass will be layered, gas-filled, and
energy efficient. Tank improvements
A secondary prototype needs to ex-
Prototype Process plore the possible placement of the
tank higher in the air compared to
The prototype will be built in a desert water-related activities in order to use
area still to be determined. A track hoe gravity to create water pressure. The
will be needed to excavate the central tank also needs to be sub-divided into
pool and cistern. The ground will be redundant compartments so that if wa-
excavated in tiers. Once the particular ter is lost from one compartment, the
building method is determined there others will remain intact.
may be a need for a combination of
any of the following:
Concrete wall forms
Pneumatic tamper
Cement pumper truck
Portable cement mixer / hopper
Cement Gunnite gun
Flatbed truck and crane
Estimated cost
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Excess water
Once the pool and primary tanks are
full, the house will divert excess water
to outside garden areas and then on
to secondary tanks on the peripheral
of the property for community water
sharing.
Sources:
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