The Water Filter

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Architecture, Hong Kong

Project idea

To resume the bonding between the community and water in Yuen Long in Hong Kong, effort must be made to advance the water quality of the urban section of Shan Pui River. A community lab is proposed at the node of nullah to act as a water filter.

Project description

To promote social bonding, canteen and exchange market will encourage the residents to enjoy the fruit of better water quality. Education corner, conference room, bookstore and exhibition zones will be the channels for spreading the “love water” attitude towards different walks of life in the Yuen Long Community. The whole interaction experience between human and water starts outside the community building but is never stopped by the building visit. In fact, it just starts at gathering and viewing platform at the atrium and encourages people to explore more.

Technical information

There are two main water cycles in the project.
Firstly, a research laboratory will regularly monitor the ambient water quality of the downstream. Through the gradually stepped filtering plants and rocks containers along the nullah starting from the upstream, the site water is filtered when passing through the node of main nullah. Public participation is encouraged to test the water right in front of the building, which will be flowed towards the proposed dam by Drainage Services Department and then Deep Bay.
Secondly, pumping facilities and filtration process by aquaponics on the building is a demonstration of how water will be recycled in a building scale. When water passes through the fish pond at the two sides of building, it will be collected at the bottom filtering layers on the nullah ground and then pumped up to the rooftop to nourish the vegetable farming. Clean water can be obtained after passing the vegetables and flows downwards to the ponds.
On the other hand, the roof of the building can direct water down to the water fall at building entrance to draw people’s attention of the interesting water experience inside the building.