Water management and the building as water regulator
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The increase in extreme rainfall due to climate change presents significant challenges. Sewage systems often can't handle the volume of water, and rivers also struggle to drain all the water to the sea quickly enough. To prevent flooding and water damage, innovative water management solutions are needed. These solutions also, and especially, apply to the built environment. A challenge we at Paul de Ruiter Architects are eager to take on.
Architect Sylvia Hendriks: "Buildings (and their built environments, such as parking lots) can serve very well as water regulators. Instead of draining rainwater directly into the sewer via a downspout, clever water infiltration systems can ensure that water is gradually drained or stored, for example, for watering green spaces. This significantly reduces the risk of flooding and water damage."
"One way to buffer rainwater is through special water retention crates," adds her colleague Martijn van Gameren. Paul de Ruiter Architects incorporates water retention crates in all its designs. "These can be placed on the roof of a building, but also in the garden or on the street in a parking space. Sensors measure if and when rain is approaching and ensure that excess water is drained promptly, either to the sewer system or to a lower roof with a roof garden."
Another way to regulate water is through the installation of green roofs, the architects conclude: "These roofs absorb a lot of water due to their vegetation. They are also good for biodiversity, help cool the city and improve the functioning of solar panels by keeping them cool.'
