PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Urban Studio Brooklyn’s summer 2007 workshop brought together 8 architecture students from Pratt Institute, CUNY, SUNY Buffalo, NYIT, Columbia, and Barnard to complete a water reclamation system for Habana Outpost, New York’s first solar powered restaurant in Brooklyn.
During the 9-day workshop practicing professionals provided guidance to the students through out the design/build process. The water reclamation system collects rainwater from the roof of the restaurant, sanitizes, filters, and stores the water. On the water’s way to the tank it passes through a green gutter system, watering plants mounted on the side of the restaurant, illustrating to the residents of Brooklyn how rainwater can be used to water plants and flush toilets. The stored water is then pumped and pressurized to flush the toilets in the bathroom. There is also a hand-washing sink connected by a vegetated filter to the one of the toilet tanks, supplementing the tank with greywater. Another component of the system re-circulates the water used by the restaurant’s refrigeration and ice machine through the green gutter and a cooling tower back to the machines. The student’s design needed to meet the client’s needs and fit into the softly didactic aesthetic of Habana Outpost.
The system saves thousands of gallons of drinking water, an estimated 4,000 gallons per week. Professionals involved in the workshop include: Eric Moustakis – Solar Energy Systems, Paul Reitz – Adamson Associates, Alvaro Quintana – FxFowle, guest critic, Naree Phinyawatana –Atelier 10, Eve Baron – MAS and the Planning Center, Craig Graber –Viridian Energy and Environmental, Jean Pfifer from Thomas Pfifer and Partners, Eric Rothstein- Edesign Dynamics.
