Gulf Coast Green speaker, Kari Smith, of Louisiana State University, presented "Water 58" on 4/15/2010 in Houston, Texas

1. Geography of Change: Water 58” [29”]
30° 13' 26” N/ 92° 1' 11” W, 5° 33' 0” N/ 0° 13' 0” W

2. “Architecture is not about the house but rather
about housekeeping.”
• Parameters or protocol organize space and are
sites of innovation/opportunity
• Markers of active processes, e.g. cycles (verb)
• “Simple components gain complexity by their
relative position to each other;” couplings can
compound meaning
• Localize infrastructure (sourcing)
• Let infrastructure occupy our attention
• Address water issues
Plan and section
“Matryoshka Principle” Wet Zone as Organizational Principle
Source: Easterling, Keller. Organization Space: Landscapes, Highways, and Houses in America. Cambridge: The MIT
Press, 2001.

3. Mississippi Basin encompasses
100% of Louisiana
Volta Basin encompasses
70% of Ghana
Watersheds of the World: Mississippi, Volta
Source: Revenga, C., S. Murray, J. Abramovitz, and A. Hammond, 1998. Watersheds of the World: Ecological
Value and Vulnerability. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute.

4. 58”
30° 12' 52.48” N/ 91° 59' 46.66” W
Territory Conditions Allowances (Encouraged)
Much of Southern Louisiana is enclosed by • Rainwater harvesting for irrigation purposes
levees with ground surface below sea level. • Water saving faucets and shower heads and
These conditions give rise to water concerns other water saving devices such as low flush or
that do not exist in other areas of the United dual flush toilets
States. The true water table can be more than
10 feet above the ground surface within the area Allowed by Variance
protected by levees. In many areas the ground • Waterless urinals
surface is maintained through constant pumping • Rainwater for toilet flushing
of ground water. Louisiana also frequently
experiences regional hazards such as hurricanes. Prohibited
• Alternative drinking water sources (cisterns)
• Onsite sanitary disposal
• Greywater reuse for potable purposes
• Use of non-potable water for showering, or
washing of any type
• Cross connection or back siphonage potential
of any non-potable sources with potable
sources.
Louisiana Protocol
Source:State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Policy on Water Use in “Green” Buildings in
Louisiana. July 2008.

5. 29”
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
Territory Conditions Allowances (Encouraged)
Much of Accra is 16'-0” above sea level, but • Rainwater harvesting
parts of it are below sea level. The territory • Earth closets (well ventilated) must be
experiences annual monsoons which often entered from external air.
create flash floods. Recorded rainfall events • Private waste water treatment (with District
have dropped over 12” of rain in under 10 Planning Authority approval.)
hours. Low infiltration rates in urban areas
during peak flooding results in large amounts of
fresh water draining into the Gulf of Guinea.
Accra Protocol
Source:Ghana Building Codes

6. 58”
30° 13' 28.41” N/ 92° 2' 41.12” W
Location: Lafayette, LA Wet Zone Strategies
Owner: NOAA
• Greywater system
Architect: Eskew+, Guidry,
Beazley, Ostteen/Eskew Filson • Stormwater management
Architects
Case Study: The Estuarine Habitats and Coastal Fisheries Center
Images: Erin Bodin

7. 58”
30° 12' 32.65” N/ 92° 1' 13.01” W
Location: Lafayette, LA Wet Zone Strategies
Owner: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• Rainscreen
Architect: TEAM BeauSoleil
Gross sq.ft.: 800
Case Study: BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home, 2009 Solar Decathlon
Images: Kari Smith

8. 58”
30° 12' 32.65” N/ 92° 1' 13.01” W
Wet Zone Strategies
• Elevated
• Micro-climate zoning
Case Study: BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home, 2009 Solar Decathlon
Images: Kari Smith & Jim Tetro, U.S. DOE

9. 58”
30° 12' 52.48” N/ 91° 59' 46.66” W
Location: Bayou Vermilion, LA Wet Zone Strategies
Gross sq.ft.: 800
• Cypress colombage frame with
bousillage infill
• Elevated on piers in response to the
high water table and seasonal flooding
• Steep roof to shed water quickly
Case Study: Vermillionville
Source: Cazayoux, Edward. A Manuel for the Environmental & Climatic Responsive Restoration & Renovation of Older
Houses in Louisiana. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. 2003.
Images: Erin Bodin

10. 58” 62”
30° 12' 52.48” N/ 91° 59' 46.66” W 29° 56' 22.19” N/ 90° 7' 13.76” W
Wet Zone Strategies Location: New Orleans, LA
Owner: Tulane University
• Use of vegetation
Architect: VJAA
• Micro-climate shading and Gross sq.ft.: 150,000
ventilation, front porch maximizes the
duration and space of human comfort
buildings can remain open to the
exterior up to 5 months of the year
Case Study: Vermillionville & Lavin-Bernick Center for Student Life
Source: Saieh, Nico. Archdaily
Images: Erin Bodin & Stephanie Bordelon

11. Wet Zone Strategies • Micro-climate thermal zones. Core
“refuge” spaces maintain a consistent
• Large rotary fans circulate air at the
temperature and relative humidity (75°,
building's perimeter.
50% RH). “Tempered” peripheral spaces
are transitional (80°, 75% RH).
Case Study: Lavin-Bernick Center for Student Life
Source: Saieh, Nico. Archdaily
Images: Stephanie Bordelon

12. 62”
29° 56' 22.19” N/ 90° 7' 13.76” W
Wet Zone Strategies
• Clerestory solar vents admit daylight
to the core of the building and provide
solar-driven ventilation.
• Pendulum and wave fans move air
across chilled radiant surfaces.
Case Study: Lavin-Bernick Center for Student Life
Source: Saieh, Nico. Archdaily
Images: Stephanie Bordelon

13. 29”
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
Location: Accra, Ghana
Gross sq.ft.: 725
“Matryoshka Principle” Wet Zone as Organizational Principle
Positive Water Balance, Ghana House
Image: owldr,LLC

14. 58”
30° 13' 26” N/ 92° 1' 11” W
Most Americans use 100 gallons per
person per day.
The World's poor often subsist on
fewer than 5 gallons per person per
day.
Vermillionville Cistern
Source: National Geographic April 2010. Vol.217. No.4:56.
Image: Erin Bodin

15. 29”
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
Agbogbloshie Rubbish Dump
Images: Copyright Andrew McConnell

16. 29”
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
Agbogbloshie Rubbish Dump
Images: Copyright Andrew McConnell

17. 29”
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
Agbogbloshie Rubbish Dump
Images: Copyright Andrew McConnell

18. 29”
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
Vegetated roof and filter strip
Constructed Wetland System
Cassava and Cocoyam Wash
Edible landscape with native plantings
over flow irrigation, food security &
preservation of culture.
Stormwater buffer strip
Positive Water Balance, Ghana House
Image: owldr,LLC

19. 58”
30° 13' 26” N/ 92° 1' 11” W
Determine total catchment area (sq. ft.)
÷ by 1,000
X 550 (to determine gallons collected per inch of rain)
X by average annual rainfall
= possible collection in gallons
Vermillionville Cistern
Source: Banks, Suzy and Richard Heinichen. Rainwater Collection for the Mechanically Challenged.
Dripping Springs, Texas: Tank Town Publishing, 2004.
Image: Erin Bodin

20. Rainwater Collection: 7,895 gallons 29”
annually from primary roof
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
(carrying capacity 4 people)
Rainwater Collection: 2,823 gallons
annually from secondary roof
Constructed Wetland Capacity: 10,283 gallons
Cistern Capacity: 3,655 gallons
Water security
Positive Water Balance, Ghana House
Image: owldr,LLC

21. 29”
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS)
Clear PET plastic bottles are placed in
the sun for 6 hours. UVA radiation kills
viruses, bacteria, and parasites in the
water making it safe to drink. Water
bottles can be stored to prevent
recontamination.
Positive Water Balance, Ghana House
Source: National Geographic April 2010. Vol.217. No.4:25
Image: owldr,LLC

22. 9” 28”
36° 2' 59.06” N/ 107° 56' 36.12” W 19° 41' 58.93” N/ 98° 50' 38.31” W
Readily available resources influence
the architectural expression.
Chaco Canyon,1100 A.D. and Teotihuacán, 250 A.D
Images: Megan Lorenz

23. “According to an estimate by the 29”
Electrical Power Research Institute,
5° 33' 11.79” N/ 0° 13' 31.34” W
about 4 percent of power generation is
used for the moving and treating of
water and wastewater [in the US].” “Dry stack” masonry construction:
207 gallons of water saved on mortar
joints.
Earth Closet: 6,424 gallons saved
annually.
Toilets account for 30% of an average
home's indoor water consumption
Positive Water Balance, Ghana House
Source: Joann Gonchar “Quenching the Built Environment's Thirst for Water.” Architectural Record. New
York: McGraw-Hill Companies. October 2009. Vol.197, No. 10 : 122
Image: owldr,LLC