The Canopy:
An integration of sustainable design on average college campus parking lots.
Using fairly simple materials (wooden deck posts, tarp, steel wire, zip ties, concrete), this installation collected rain water for the class community garden in an adjacent spot. I particularly enjoyed this project for the necessary considerations of physics (my major) into the structure. Even after accounting for rate of water flow, tension, general weight distributions, and performing a dozen tests of the aforementioned - the Canopy presented new challenges everyday.
The inspiration for this project was the Cooper Hewitt's 2012 exhibit "Design for the Other 90%".
In its simplest form, the goal of The Canopy was to redirect rain water in a simple and cost effecient way to be used by the nearby community garden.
Below: The adjacent spot was the class garden (growing kale and cabbage in this photo),created and maintained by a fellow student using both recycled materials from around campus and leaves for insulation during the cold fall.
My initial tests made me believe I had distributed the weight correctly!
However, despite the tests, the first major heavy rain proved otherwise... (above)
I managed to correct the problem with a new gutter system: using bungee cords for flexibitly in the wind, I reinforced each grommet with a loose cable tie as a safety precaution.
Even with a few hiccups, it all worked out in the end!
Some Google SketchUp renderings of my initial concept, with an added display board highlighting the benefits of sustainable design, and its extended applications in ordinary campus locations.
