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Untapped Potential: Creating a Hydrologically Responsible Urban Environment

Suever, Andrea
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1490699269373902

Abstract Details

2017, MARCH, University of Cincinnati, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture.
For the majority of people in the United States, fresh, clean water is something that is taken for granted. When we turn on the faucet, there is no thought given to where that water comes from, how much is being used, and where it is going. Although this resource may seem endless to most, it is actually quite limited. There is only a finite amount of water on Earth and only a small fraction of that is available for use to us as humans. Some areas of our country, like California, are already facing water supply issues, and as our population continues to grow, these issues are only going to increase unless we rethink the relationships between humans, water, and the built environment. unTAPPED POTENTIAL looks to investigate these relationships and examine how they can be re-thought to create a more hydrologically responsible urban environment at the individual building scale. One problem contributing to the issues with our water supply is inefficient water systems in buildings. Our buildings water system are inefficient mainly because they produce a significant amount of waste. In order to address this, the thesis uses ecosystems as a systematic model to analyze and outline a framework for creating more efficient water systems in buildings. The other identified problem is that our society is unaware of the water they themselves and our buildings consume because our building systems are hidden away from sight. This is addressed through the idea that reconnecting people with nature and exposing them to the natural resources our buildings consume will increase their awareness and encourage more sustainable water practices. The ultimate goal is to exemplify how architecture can specifically address the issues surrounding our threatened water supply by creating a methodology where tools to create more efficient water systems and strategies for exposing and celebrating the systems are presented and tested. The developed methodology is tested in the design of a water conservation center and resort in Los Angeles, California, an area already facing significant water supply problems. The center will provide a destination for both travelers and the local public to visit, enjoy nature, and learn about how they can make an impact on urban water consumption.
Elizabeth Riorden, M.Arch. (Committee Chair)
Christoph Klemmt, A.A. Dipl. (Committee Member)
142 p.
Architecture
water; water system; ecological design; filtration; systems thinking; Los Angeles

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Suever, A. (2017). Untapped Potential: Creating a Hydrologically Responsible Urban Environment [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1490699269373902

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Suever, Andrea. Untapped Potential: Creating a Hydrologically Responsible Urban Environment. 2017. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1490699269373902.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Suever, Andrea. "Untapped Potential: Creating a Hydrologically Responsible Urban Environment." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1490699269373902

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1490699269373902
126
© 2017, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Untapped Potential: Creating a Hydrologically Responsible Urban Environment by Andrea Suever is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.