Due to abrupt climate change becoming ever more pressing question of adapting cities to new weather conditions. According to meteorologists, the average annual rainfall in recent years has increased several times. And a group of architects from Germany offers to use a weather changing for the good, adapting the house to collect water.
The development of the new project is managed by Carlo Becker, and the project was named Sponge City. In nature, as you know, some of the water penetrates the soil, and another part evaporates, cooling the air. In the cities of glass and concrete, all somewhat different: the asphalt cement and does not pass water, which flows away into the sewer. And concrete absorbs heat and repels liquids. The Sponge project, the City retains rainwater, using it to cool the city in the heat. Thus, it appears to kill two birds with one stone: to save city dwellers from the heat and to simulate the natural cycle of water conservation in nature.
“The water after precipitation is absorbed there, which falls on the roofs and facades of houses, where they grow plants, or on roadside ponds. Water is a resource that no longer need show outside the city.”
Everything is arranged as follows: the houses are special roof thickness of 6-8 inches. She, like the area around the house is equipped with a drainage system that absorbs moisture like a sponge (hence the name). Preserved then the liquid is treated and used for watering and air conditioning. This technology plan to use in China in the cities of Shanghai, Wuhan and Xiamen, which annually floods. It is planned that by 2020 up to 80% of urban buildings will absorb and use up to 70% of rainwater.
Sponge City: the city of the future, which will protect from flooding and heat
Vladimir Kuznetsov