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Architectural Firm Designs Nicer Rainwater Harvester

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MOSS SUND Architects and Fig Forty created this gorgeous (and highly effective: 100 gallon!) rainwater harvester because they were disappointed with the aesthetics of the rainwater harvesting options that they were seeing. This is not only sturdy and beautifully designed but it is in it for the long haul.

There is something inexplicably jarring about taking a truly sustainable concept such as rainwater harvesting but then solving it with some kind of temporary plastic barrel –as is so often the case. We all need to add rainwater harvesting in the West. We don’t need more ugly plastic around the house.

The group creates the CISTA rainwater harvester in steel – which is not only a more durable and tasteful material than plastic to attach to your house, but it is actually the most recyclable material in existence: we are still reusing metal today that was originally smelted back when Cleopatra was sailing the Nile.

This system is designed for urban environments and provides a serious supply: 100 gallons of rainwater storage within this 8-foot tall vertical planted frame. Not only does it provide a real solution, but this will also cool and refresh the area around it with transpiration from the green wall of ivy that it will grow.

The vertical arrangement would sit beneath an eaves trough downspout where it would collect rainwater. The resulting water pressure is enough to operate a soaker hose that can be housed in a storage compartment at the base of the unit.

A potted climbing plant such as ivy is placed at the base so it can eventually grow and climb up into the frame. There’s also an LED lit water level indicator, the system can be expanded both horizontally and vertically, and thanks to the nesting design it can be efficiently shipped.

Via eco friend