Water harvester through generative designed surface / Diaphanus @MonterreyTech MX | Gabriel Esquivel + David Hernández

Rhino 5 and Grasshopper were used which helped us generate this particular surface, as well as controlling not only the surface itself (square footage) but the amount material allowed in the budget. First, the curves that limit the surface were generated; these curves are basically a series of catenaries. Once the surface was generated, the structure was determined as a diagrid that was built out of thermoplastic transparent hose.

Based on the points generated by the subdivision of the diagrid, a second surface was generated; this surface was made out of hexagons divided in twelve parts, which integrated a series of modules that were repeated throughout the surface. We included a series of attractor points which when we modified their values it allowed us to generate a gradient of pieces (2D flowers) throughout the surface. A third surface was generated from which the central point was taken from each module and by means of attractor points, we obtained a rise of the flower towards the center of each hexagon, having generated three-dimensional forms (flowers) that altogether with the surfaces previously generated, we would obtain the desired visual effect according to the established directions of sensibility, when the flat surface evolves into an exuberant three-dimensional surface. These flowers are made out of laser cut translucent polypropylene.

A system for rainwater harvesting was designed based on diverse methods and existing technologies, its performance had to be completely fused with the design, responding to the aesthetic sensibility and within the limits of available digital fabrication processes. The installation goal was from the beginning to maintain a viable project. After all the research it was decided to integrate the “3D flowers” as the water collectors for this prototype, integrating them with carbon filters connecting them to the capillary system (hoses), since this is a process by which the impure molecules adhere to the activated carbon surface. The adhesion is due to an electrochemical attraction; once the water is already filtered it moves through the structural network, continuing the process of purification. It finally ends at water tank storage for later use, The total area of the flat surface is 550 sqft, By adding the flowers we increased the water collecting surface to 1350 sqft.

Its structure was generated with design software and built with the transparent hose, which also serves to carry the water collected by the flowers,  The water passes through carbon filters, then through the piece’s structural network of transparent hoses, ready for water tank storage.

http://www.suckerpunchdaily.com/2011/07/21/diaphanus/

http://archone.tamu.edu/college/news/newsletters/spring2011/stories/Esquivel_Monterrey.html

credits:
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Campus Estado de México
Advanced Prototypes
Department of Industrial Design
students:
Lucy Cruz, Oscar Hevia, Orlando Lara, Montserrat Leyva, Carlos Linares, Alheli Pérez, Roxana Rezéndiz, Roxana Sánchez, Pamela Téllez, Abelardo Vergara.