Hiding from heaven
blooming open infrastructure systems with what comes from above
Stormwater infrastructure in America is deteriorating1. Rather than questioning fundamental assumptions about the purpose of infrastructure, our government continues to spend billions of dollars to sustain the existing system. Although a step in the right direction, green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) solutions are only acupuncturally implemented. Drawing upon open stormwater infrastructure (OSI) methods from UNESCO world heritage sites23, nurturing landscapes from the ground up may reimagine how OSI’s can synchronize with our spiritual senses.
Rain rituals
Receiving rain for crop cultivation was always essential for life. Traditionally, weather patterns have played important roles in community traditions and understandings of the divine. With the rise of secularism, closed infrastructure seems to have severed that relationship. In contrast, OSI seem to welcome and host a conversation with higher powers, honoring water for all to observe. However, an OSI which doesn’t consider how a community spiritually interacts with nature cannot reach it’s full potential.
Higher meanings
Adapting to the peculiarities of site alone is not enough. While understanding soil grade and topography can inform design choices, positioning the metaphysical in dialogue with those features can provide placemaking benefits. For example, in the case of Battir, the mosque at the top of the village is a rallying point for the villagers to measure the water after the dawn and dusk prayers. Likewise, temple culture and rice terraces in Bali are synthesized through the Tri Hita Karana philosophy. Closed infrastructure do not enjoy these same privileges. Hence, creating a spiritual focal point which serves as a ritualistic reminder of how we should care and interact with the land can punctuate our appreciation for stormwater for the long run.
Deorientalizing sacredness
Notions of religious architecture are often seen as frivolous compared to the function first modern architecture we are familiar with. Despite it’s beauty, pre-modern architecture is also viewed with an oriental eye often erasing the many functions design would play aside from it’s aesthetic form. Spiritual centered design should move beyond symbolism and give an outlet to program traditions rooted in higher virtues.
1 “2021 INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT CARD” (American Society of Civil Engineers, 2021). “The United States has approximately 3.5 million miles of storm sewers, 270 million storm drains, and 2.5 million stormwater treatment assets1. According to the EPA, “The nation’s wastewater and stormwater management systems that are critical to safely returning used water to the environment are aging and breaking down.” Despite their critical importance, the American Society of Civil Engineers has assigned these systems a grade of “D.” It is estimated that an additional $8 billion is needed to rehabilitate and upgrade the nation’s stormwater infrastructure. In 2022, the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill allocated $11.7 billion for clean water infrastructure (includes storm and sewer), so communities can upgrade their systems. $100,195,000 were allocated to Ohio only third to California and New York with $127,290,000 and $196,443,000 respectively.
Battir, Palestine https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1492/
Bali, Indonesia https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1194/