School of Design | Graduate Interior Design
Students: Miranda Fallon, Gloria Refrigeri, Avitha Narayanamurthy
Faculty: Tetsu Ohara
This Rain Harvester not only collects and stores rainwater, but it also functions as a place for gatherings, community events, and education. The shape of the Harvester itself creates a pavilion-style structure under which individuals may gather, socialize, and rest. The biomimetic design is realized through recycled and local materials for ease of production and sustainability purposes.
The biomimetic Rain Harvester functions as a collection + storage + cooling device that not only provides the communities of Northern Benin with safe, potable drinking water but also promotes gender equality within the communities. Women and girls are primarily tasked with collecting water daily, and the lengthy trip to the local well takes up time that could be used for education, work, and community-building. The Rain Harvester stores rain locally so that women and girls may focus their energy on education and hobbies rather than spending hours per day collecting water. The grouping of harvesters provides a shady space for community gatherings.
Each function of the design is inspired by nature; the collection element is inspired by the epiphyte leaf, the filtration mechanism is based on the baleen whale tooth, and the storage element is inspired by the cactus and snail shell.
The collection of Rain Harvesters creates shade, provides a place for community gathering, and increases water collection.
