RED MULUK
A series of installations employ the fog harvesting technique to collect water from wind-driven fog. Serving as a pilot program in San Jerónimo Tecoatl, Mexico, Red Muluk operates on a local scale with a design that respects the environment and its people, drawing inspiration from local traditions and crafts.
Fog harvesting involves capturing water using mesh, providing an alternative source of freshwater. These systems are commonly installed in areas with naturally high fog presence, particularly in mountainous regions.
Current user journey to obtain water
Ninety-five percent of the population in San Jerónimo Tecoatl lives in extreme poverty. With deteriorating pipe conditions and an average waiting time of 12 days (during drought months) to access this essential resource, inhabitants must undertake a daily lengthy journey to procure the water necessary for their survival.
Red Muluk´s user journey
In the customer journey below, one can observe that with Red Muluk's service, accessibility to water is greatly improved and simplified compared to their current journey, with a significant reduction in the overall process.
Designing for the people and with the people
Oaxaca stands out as one of the most diverse regions in all of Mexico, boasting over 70 distinct pottery communities. The pottery pieces crafted in this region adhere to traditional methods that have remained unchanged for centuries. Oaxaca is among the few areas in Mexico that can proudly assert the continuance of ancestral crafts, practices that persist in everyday life and have done so since their inception.
The ultimate goal of the project was to draw inspiration from Oaxaca's pottery in the final design. In doing so, the system not only provides locals with water, addressing the issue of drought, but also delves into a more profound understanding of the region, its traditions, and crafts. Importantly, this approach ensures that users remain connected and engaged with the final design without feeling alienated.
Form follows function
With the goal of providing the people of San Jeronimo Tecoatl with the most efficient solution to their water crisis, many of the sketches above were translated into 3D structures. These structures were then subjected to wind tunnel simulations to analyse their effectiveness.
During the wind tunnel simulation, the sole variable considered was the wind speed, reaching up to 20 km/hour. The results of each simulation were evaluated for values such as velocity magnitude, specific dissipation rate, and turbulent kinetic energy.
The most successful shapes turned out to be four different forms, all sharing the same base. In certain sections of these forms, the structure was reinforced to enhance strength and rigidity in the composition.
The towers are characterised by their modularity, offering not only ease of construction and maintenance but also efficient storage and transport.
A flexible and dynamic system
The structure is designed to restrict the repetition or replication of the same shape, giving the final design a unique and distinctive appearance compared to nearby structures, resulting in a more personalised outcome.
The interactive nature of Red Muluk's system empowers users to actively engage in the final design, customising the towers based on their individual needs and preferences.