Virtual Water collects, cleans and conserves rainwater

Clean water is precious and its scarcity can lead to a lot of trouble as it does not only help quench thirst, but is used for various other purposes like bathing and washing clothes. Every year a lot of water goes down the drain, in the form of rainfall, which if conserved can be used for various activities. Keeping this in mind, UrbanLab, Method Design and enderstudio, came up with an awe-inspiring design that will make good use of thousands of gallons of rainwater collected during summertime.

Virtual Water

Christened the Virtual Water, it was conceived as a part of the MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program or YAP for the year 2012. The structure stands out and will help solve water crisis to a great extent. The modern era has made it possible for people to live in a virtual world, which gets extended to water as well through this brilliantly designed structure. There is water hidden in each everyday product, which we don’t even see. Every product has a Virtual Water footprint that may get stretched to thousands of gallons. Even a humble pair of plain looking denims has a Virtual Water footprint of 3000 gallons used during its products, which may range from growing cotton to dying the fabric. Similarly, each and every building also has a Virtual Water footprint, which most of times comprise of water based process like rain.

Living spaces are made in such a way that they protect us from rain, and hence all the water that falls down to the earth is diverted to the underground sewer. This is where the Virtual Water project will come into play, as it will collect, clean and at the same time conserve rainwater for further use. The structure comprises of canopies that are conical in shape. These give birth to six truly distinctive atmospheres that are water based as rainwater flows between and over them after it has been cleansed. The water based unique environment comprises of a Stream or living machine, a Waterfall Fish Pond, a Splash Pool, an active Mist/Sprinkler environment, a Drip Rain Puddle and a Reflecting Pool Lounge. These serve various purposes and perform a variety of functions that makes rainwater accessible for further use.

Rainwater is collected and cleaned with the help of plants by a Stream or Living Machine, which is a clear example of the power of nature to clean water that too without using additional energy. Vital nutrients are provided to the plants that are a part of the Living Machine by a Waterfall Fish Pond, which helps clean water because of the relation between fish and their environment. Shallow bio filtered water is present in a Splash Pool which can be used by visitors for recreation purposes and playing. When it gets hot outside, an active Mist/Sprinkler will help cool people as it sprays water all around. If you love the sound produced by dripping water, then a Drip Rain Puddle will make sure you savor the mystic voice that it will create after it rains.

Virtual water is a clear way of putting forward the amount of water hidden as the water splatters, shines, drips, flows and takes many forms in the PS1 courtyard.

Via: Archdaily