The conflict over water and land in Sudan has created political unrest for decades. However, in 2007, scientists from Boston university discovered and underground lake in the region of Darfur, Sudan. This lake is tenth biggest lake in the world (31, 000 m2) and would have great potential in resolving the conflict if managed correctly.
Addressing this water issue, polish firm H3AR architect and design recently proposed a building that allows access to underground waters through the application of water pumps.This building is meant to provoke economical development but also stimulate cultural exchange and the coexistence of the three different religions and languages in Sudan.
The building walls are constructed using compressed dry stacked clay bricks, made on site using a rough mixture of earth, cement and water. The bricks would be baked in the hot sun, thus, requiring no extra energy and limiting the environmental impact of the materials.
The choice of using this technology represents the desire to introduce alternative and sustainable technologies within a context that is tied to stardardized though not always optimal building practice.
For a similar theme, this time dedicated to western countries, Ryszard Rychlicki and Agnieszka Nowak of H3AR received a special mention for their proposal for eVolo Skyscraper competition 2010.
The façade of the tower consists in a systems of gutters, focused at shaping and modeling the surface of the roof to capture as much rainfall as possible flowing down the building to meet the daily needs of its inhabitants. Average daily consumption of water per person is 150 liters, out of which 85 liters may be replaced by rain water. Within the last thirty years water consumption has significantly increased in the developed countries.
Under a roof’s surface, there are water reservoirs in the form of a large funnel and reed fields, which serve as a hydro botanic water treatment unit. The unit processes water into usable water that is further transmitted to apartments.
After seeing the two projects I ask myself if it’s possible to adjust this idea to Africa or countries in need in a correct mix of utility and possibility. Can small devices be projected with the aim of collecting water in an efficient way? Can them be realized with cheap material by the population and work? We’ll try later…
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/9406/hugon-kowalski-watertower-skyscraper.html
http://www.h3ar.pl/
http://www.existingvisual.com/2010/03/12/rain-collector-skyscraper-evolo-skyscraper-competition-2010-ryszard-rychlicki-agnieszka-nowak-of-h3ar/
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