Abstract
In this project, I am using rainwater to create an immersive experience for visitors to urban parks. The first iteration of this design is intended for Governors Island, due to the island’s cultural and educational characteristics. This will be an interactive installation, which changes in different weather conditions and throughout the day, in order to encourage people to remember the greatness of nature and to show how we can conserve natural resources.
The installation is meant to be a permanent open structure in the park, surrounded by the landscape. It collects rainwater and draws people in with a powerful water column and misting system. The canopy of the installation can be used as a shelter when raining and as a source of shade when the sun comes out. The collected rainwater will be stored underneath and flow through the installation. The misting system is at the edge of the canopy, where it cools and purifies the air and waters nearby plants.
Research
The importance of Urban Parks in Urbanization
With 80% of the United States population living in urban areas, urban parks play an important role in society. Moreover, it is estimated be more than half of the global population lives in urban areas.
Many research studies point to the importance of parks for our mental and physical health. For example, the Health Environment Research & Design (HERD) journal presents evidence that people in hospitals with views of greenery recover more swiftly both physically and mentally than people with a view of concrete and bricks.
Climate Change - Extreme Weather - Unstable Precipitation
Daily Precipitation in 2022 in New York City
Source: Weather Spark
How might we sustain and improve water use within unstable precipitation?
Rain Benefits Our Mental Health
During rainfall, negative ions notably increase in the atmosphere. Once they enter into the human bloodstream, they cause biochemical reactions that allow people to feel more relaxed and calm. Additionally, the sound of rain can generate brain waves similar to those that occur during sleep, potentially reducing depression and anxiety.
Rainwater Harvesting, not only reduces water use, but also improves the soil.
For every inch of rainfall, 600 gallons of water fall onto a 1,000-square-foot surface. Rainwater, which contains nitrates, an important nutrient for plants, is beneficial to the soil. Collecting and directing rainwater to plants that need water, instead of using the city’s water resources, is economical.
Interaction with Water Helps Development
A psychology study from the Oxford Handbook, an academic publication, showed that adolescents with higher stewardship of nature experienced and played more in nature during their childhood. Playing with water is important for young children’s development. Moreover, it helps them understand the world they live in.
Kids playing water around the fountain/ Bryant Park, New York City.
Misting System
We can see misting as an element within the public installation in both ambiance and task functions. According to my interview with Dr. Wen-Ju Yang, a horticulture professor at National Taiwan University, there are two positive impacts of misting: it lowers the temperature and cleans up the dust on leaves that purify the air. Timing is key, similar to the importance of time in watering the plants. Leaves can get scorched by the hot sun and water droplets.
Design Process
Observation
For several months, I visited Governors Island every weekend for an internship. This was a great opportunity to observe people’s behavior in their leisure time. People came to see those art pieces in the natural environment, and they tried to understand and play with them. I saw how people would spontaneously interact with simple designed objects in public.
Determining Scale
The experiences of visiting public spaces with large structures allowed me to develop a sense of scale for structures. I took the Reflection Pool as the standard especially to determine the installation dimensions.
Defining Design Criteria
I separated the structure into three parts to come up with the form initially, which are the canopy, columns, and base. I considered the project position in environmental aspects, like what the constraints are, what is the order of hierarchy among the project, and what to care for in the wide range of target users. The aim is to create an interactive structure with well-considered user’s scenario and experience.
Prototyping and Testing
I used paper and cardboard to check the ratio aesthetic and the structural feasibility of the installation canopy. Additionally, I printed out 3D prototypes to test the hypothetical assembling components, and consider how the parts connect together into a surface, how the surface could be structured above, and to consider the thickness of the surface. I chose from several possibilities during testing and analyzed them before creating a more refined version.
Model Building and Rendering
I used digital rendering to demonstrate how the installation iterates in different circumstances, such as day with a sundial, night with ambient light, and the scenario of people interacting with the water in space. Moreover, I observed how harvesting water is used in the urban park. The physical 1:40 scale model will imitate materials, and by viewing it from every angle, it allows audiences to imagine the real piece.
How Does It Work?
Rainwater will be collected from the canopy and gathered in the center of the structure. It forms into a water column and goes through the drain to the bottom compartment. Water will be stored and filtered while flowing in the tube.
It becomes a shelter in the rain.
The integration of universal design thinking into the structure enables a diverse range of people to participate in this experience.
Park maintenance utilizes the water for the landscape.
