AN OPTIMIZED ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION IN ROOFTOP RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM
Authors: *Ebhomien L.E, Obarisiagbon O
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
A survey of urban and rural areas in most part of southern Nigeria reveals ‘ad-hoc’ integration of auxiliary components to the roof structure of a building for the collection of rainwater through the technology of rainwater harvesting (RWH). Hence, this paper aims to optimize RWH by proposing roof designs capable of enhancing this strategy. The research was conducted by self-administered questionnaire survey in which random sampling was used to obtain views of building users to evaluate the need for an architectural intervention. The data obtained was analyzed, and the results revealed that aesthetic appeal and seasonality of rainfall were the major factors limiting RWH wide spread adoption, while from an architectural perspective, roof optimization was identified. Consequently, concealed roof gutters, optimal rooftop layout configuration, central rainwater collection points, flush diverters, screens and leaf guards were combined in an optimized RWH system implementing butterfly roof and modified inverted umbrella roof as a design solution.
Affiliations: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Keywords: Rainwater Harvesting System, Architectural Intervention, Water Management, Architectural Optimization, Butterfly Roof
Published date: 2016/12/30
