Water reigns : an urban storm water treatment facility for Auckland City that educates the public about the issues surrounding the supply of clean water

Abstract

The need to employ sustainable water management practices is becoming increasingly crucial as the global water shortages increase. As more people migrate to urban areas the challenges facing a city’s ability to protect its fresh water resources will need to be addressed. The current models employed in Auckland deal with water in a manner that is unsustainable in terms of increasing water pollution and the increasing demand for clean water in a growing city.

Water is not often at the forefront of societal concerns in New Zealand until crisis points, such as the recent contamination of the Havelock North water supply and last year’s South Dunedin floods. It is important to educate the public about the issues facing the future of water management in Auckland by engaging in the conversation about solutions to ensure that action can be taken to avoid future crises.

The integration of technology into the public social environment through an engaging architectural intervention is needed to foster a society that understands the challenges, and can contribute to the solutions needed to ensure that water supply is guaranteed for the future.

Project site: Vacant car park between Fort Street and Shortland Street, Auckland CBD.