Aqua House - Architecture That Integrates Water Technically and Aesthetically

Stephanie Madison of Habitus Living interviews thehow consumers could integrate water-wise solutions
author about his book "Aqua House, Architectureinto their homes is to locate in the entry hall of their
that Integrates Water Technically and Aesthetically"house a reflection pool that stores high quality water.
Can you please elaborate on what inspired you toIt would celebrate the triumph of harvested water in
write Aqua Houses and the key ideas in the book?the way that the sink in the foyer of Villa Savoye
Current concerns about global water usage and thedoes, and invites cleansing of a guest's journey.
increasing pollution of it's environments is whatAnother example is to have a structure that consists
inspired me to write Aqua House. The book focusesof a series of aqua columns. The water columns
on the relationship of water and architecture. Itreplace the underground water cistern or solid water
re-examines the place that it occupies in architecturetanks used in other the sustainable houses allowing
in order to determine how current practices invisual appreciation and awareness of quantity of the
architecture contribute to the pollution of waterstored water, while also being used to supply the
environments and to what is believed to be anwater needs.
unsustainable usage of it. The book then seeks toWhat do you envision consumers wanting in terms of
investigate how some of these practices inwater-wise architectural spaces in the future, please
architecture could be modified in the future in orderdescribe? Why do you think consumers will be drawn
to mitigate the water problem.to these spaces/design elements etc?
The key idea in the book is how can the design of aI envision consumers wanting water-wise architectural
house integrate the technical and aesthetic functionsspaces to experience the various states and
of water?transformations, its distinctive tastes, sounds and
I have attempted to answer this by designing asmells. Water's beauty is in its fluidity, transparency
building (Aqua House) that works with both theand reflective-ness. For example water has symbolic
aesthetic and technical functions of aqua. In addition,meanings: to Chinese Feng Shui it represents good chi
the design integrates water and architecture in a wayand in Christianity, it means cleansing. People are
that could contribute to reducing contamination ofnaturally drawn towards water for its aesthetic
the water environment. While Aqua House is a smallqualities and musicians frequently celebrate it in their
project, focused on the problem of residentialwork. Schubert's Water Songs, Deep Purple's Smoke
architecture it can perhaps help raise awareness ofon the Water, Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over
wider water issues. The lessons learned can perhapsTroubled Water, Lady in the Water, The Wild River,
be extrapolated to a re-examination of other typesWater Lilies are some examples of music and movies
of buildings and urban environments, where a widerinspired by water. Paintings by artists like Hockney,
set of water issues could be examined.Dali, Picasso, Monet, Escher, English all depict the
In following the principles outlined in Aqua Houses,beauty of water.
how can consumers integrate water-wise solutionsI think consumers will be drawn to the integrated
into their homes that are both technically efficientdesign solutions knowing that each year they are
and architecturally aesthetically appealing?sending 0.0 litres of effluent and 0.0 litres of
The principles outlined in Aqua House is that rain,stormwater to the rivers and oceans, and manage in
which is collected, recycled and cleansed, isthe process to celebrate it.
celebrated and organises the house. An example of