craftastic

proposal.pdf

In my studio project I have been studying the link between architecture and natural water resources to create a building that is highly influenced by and dependent upon a daylighted creek that runs through the site. Coupled with an increasing global consciousness of the increasing scarcity and preciousness of water supply, this has focused my interest in developing a product that speaks to this issue. The availability of potable water in third world countries is obviously an important issue, but in many ways I feel that an even more significant problem is how water is wasted in the western world. Societies that have relied upon a, seeming, never-ending fresh water supply for generation upon generation are conditioned to waste. Some western industrialized countries take the problem seriously by implementing government regulations and water saving technologies. Most European countries seem to use the dual-flush toilets. Some Australian cities dwellers are limited by law to using only harvested rainwater for private gardens.

I feel like there can be some technology implemented in private homes to regulate or caution against wasteful water use. A few of the ideas I have thought about as a starting point:

- a dual source faucet. Like a dual flush toilet, maybe it is possible to install a dual faucet that accesses both potable and harvested rainwater, for instance.
- a faucet control that alerts the user to running water. It must be both annoying enough and difficult enough to disable to dissuade waste
- apartment appropriate rainwater collection system installed from window
- a new/construction material that absorbs rainwater for later use

I am still exploring how a given household task might be rethought to negate the use of water….