Water Collecting System
Collaborative Study Project / 2025 / 1 semester
Project Overview
This project was developed in an interdisciplinary advanced studio focused on designing climate-responsive skyscrapers for arid environments, set in Dubai. Working in teams across Architecture and Industrial Design, we designed a tall building integrated with an atmospheric water collecting system that generates water on-site. Using plant-derived hygroscopic biomaterials, the system captures moisture from dry desert air and converts it into usable water, addressing water scarcity while reducing dependence on centralized infrastructure. The final outcome included a building proposal and a works-like physical model that demonstrated how the water collecting system functions as part of a resource-generating building ecosystem.
My Contributions
As the product designer on the team, I focused on the design of the water collecting system itself. I developed the system’s form, structure, and mechanism, translating material research into a scalable and modular product that could be integrated into the building façade. I also led the development of the works-like model, prioritizing functional clarity over representation to clearly communicate how atmospheric moisture is captured, condensed, and delivered. Through iterative prototyping and close collaboration with architecture teammates, I bridged material-driven biodesign concepts with practical, product-scale design decisions.
Tools
System Building
3D Programming
3D Printing
Collaborators
Nhat Nguyen
T.Y. Lee
Jeff Wang
