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Modern Design Captures Valuable Rain
Instead of letting a precious natural resource trickle away, these architectural features make the most of it
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
As I type this, New York City is getting pounded by rain, a welcome bit of moisture during a summer when the Northeast and the rest of the country are dry. But as I watch the rain hit the empty asphalt lot out my back window, I can't help but think that more could be done with the rain rather than it being sent directly to storm sewers. Most flat roofs do the same as the empty lot, funneling the water via gutters and downspouts toward a combined sewer under the street. Unfortunately, on its way to the water treatment plant, that water tends to overflow during rain events like this, leading to the "combined sewer overflow" being ejected into the rivers and bays. It's a disgusting occurrence that can be remedied by green roofs, rainwater harvesting and other means.
Design features that do something with the increasingly valuable resource of water falling from the sky are suitable to just about any context, be it a big city, a suburb or a rural area. Here are some ideas for collecting and using rainwater from roofs.
Design features that do something with the increasingly valuable resource of water falling from the sky are suitable to just about any context, be it a big city, a suburb or a rural area. Here are some ideas for collecting and using rainwater from roofs.
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| One important consideration in rainwater harvesting is the design of the roof. Here is a house with a large overhang that provides more surface area for rainwater collection. If the rain is heavy enough, that extra area makes a difference. Note the cisterns on the far right side of the photo. |
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| A closer look at the cisterns illustrates that the design and placement of these objects are important. These are substantial metal cisterns (I think there may even be one more hiding behind the pair) that are placed at the far end of the house, down a slight slope. The placement reduces their visual impact. |
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| This house has small cisterns in concrete that actually help define an outdoor space. These sustainable features are prominent, expressing the owner's and the architect's efforts. Note the scupper on the low roof feeding the cisterns. |
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| This house does not show its cistern from the front of the house, but the roof profiles work toward feeding it. The pitched roof on the right sloping toward the flat roof on the left indicates that something might be happening with rainwater collection. |
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| A view at the back of the house reveals that to be the case. The bright red cylinder on the right is fed by pipes from the roof above. |
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| Remember the house's front door? Bright red, just like the cistern, which the owners bring attention to but elevate above its inherent industrial character. |
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But of course not everybody who wants rainwater harvesting wants above-grade cisterns. These below-grade cisterns will be capped by a lawn. While they're fitting for a suburban or rural site, the major amount of excavation required is a downside. As well, any future maintenance will require ripping up the lawn. One needs to balance these various concerns when considering rainwater collection.
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| This house near Annapolis, Maryland, boasts of water conservation and harvesting via collection and reuse of rainwater, as well as "a 'living shoreline' for breeding of aquatic life," according to Gardner Mohr Architects' description. Further, the landscape is designed for "the infiltration of 100 percent of the storm water onsite." From this view it's clear how the design has influenced each, from the butterfly roof form to the sloped landscape and the rocky shoreline. |
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| The butterfly roof funnels water to one end, capturing the rain with a custom scupper and a downspout. |
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| I can't help but end this story with at least one green roof, and the Mill Valley Cabins near San Francisco are some of the most exceptional ones on Houzz. The series of green roofs let the cabins merge into the dense forest context. |
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A close-up shows that the terracing allows for access to the roofs. Sedum roofs don't need gardening help like this, but it's important to consider that green roofs slow rainwater runoff while also insulating interior spaces and adding beauty to the "fifth facade"; they also give the opportunity for gardening and even urban farming.
More:
9 Cooling Rooftop Gardens
High Design for the Downspout
More:
9 Cooling Rooftop Gardens
High Design for the Downspout
Comments
Rough Linen I am going today to the local planning department ask about (among other things) the possibility of a large rainwater tank beside my house. I used to live in Australia where we are far more aware of water and the lack of it. (I seldom wash my car!)
10 months ago · Like
Joe Statwick Make sure to check your state and local regulations before starting a rainwater collection project, large or small. In much of the western US, for example, "your" rainwater and greywater is actually owned by someone else, and you could get in legal trouble for storing and using it.
10 months ago · Like
lindajblair Cisterns are not only common but are required by law for most dwellings in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Generally they are built of concrete below the house where a basement would be in the states and they provide all of the water for the home, not just an ancillary supply for gardening.
10 months ago · Like
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takunchancesalso We live in Belize on the ocean. We designed two large cisterns under the main house. Approximately 20,000 gallons. Then under the beach porch are two 3,000 gallon cisterns mainly for the pool to refill due to evaporation. The guest house has two more above ground cisterns with 7,000 gallons. We have enough to carry us all year and especially through the dry season which is about 5 month here. Filtration is simple. We just use a sediment filter. Add a little bleach once in a whle and we are very happy and healthy. The pool holds an additional 9,000 gallons and all are piped together and we can draw off any one of the sources when needed via ball valve's.
10 months ago · Like
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k_sera Great idea... if you live in a place where rain water isn't considered waters of the state and you're allowed to do it. For example, Washington does not allow rain water harvesting. But if you can do it, it's an incredibly smart thing to do.
10 months ago · Like
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John Hill Joe and k_sera - I was not aware of jurisdictions limiting rainwater (outside of reading about companies buying rainwater in South America), but it doesn't surprise me. Nevertheless, a good thing to know when pursuing such a project.
10 months ago · Like
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Eggleston Farkas Architects Washington State has changed their regulations, and now allows for rainwater harvesting from rooftops (see http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/hq/rwh.html/). We took advantage of this for our Lopez Island Cabin (http://eggfarkarch.com/lopez-island-cabin-gray-magazine + in-progress photos at http://eggfarkarch.com/lopez-island-cabin-02-19-10). The cisterns are all located in the basement "plinth" of the cabin.
10 months ago · Like
Nicole Orner Colorado also has rules against collection, though I understand those are under review. Here in Arizona we have pretty lenient rain water/ grey water laws... the trick is finding rain water to collect. :)
10 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 25, 2012.
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