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Embassy of Water

De Hemelwatertoren

A playful do-it-yourself solution for rainwater management.


De Hemelwatertoren - Impressie

By encouraging residents to disconnect their downspouts from the sewage system in a playful way, it establishes a natural water capture system that creates the foundation for a thriving ecosystem around the tower. This ecosystem promotes biodiversity and reduces pressure on the sewage system.

Modulair & DIY

The basic version of the tower consists of a simple combination of terracotta or repurposed pots that allows rainwater to slowly absorb into the ground. This module is cost-effective, easy to install, and risk-free. By adding extra modules, the tower becomes multifunctional: residents can enhance it with additions like pet drinking trays, insect hotels, or bird feeders, further enriching the ecosystem around the tower.

The tower can be easily customized to fit the homeowner’s aesthetic preferences, making it both functional and visually appealing in the neighborhood. With detailed instructions, residents can build the tower themselves using minimal tools, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement with the project.

The Rainwater Tower playfully and personally engages residents to disconnect their downspouts. By building a Rainwater Tower, residents collectively contribute to sustainable water management, create a space for a local ecosystem around the downspout, and promote biodiversity in urban areas.


About Ruben Warnshuis en Katinka Feijs

Katinka Feijs and Ruben Warnshuis are two independent designers who developed the Hemelwatertoren together. Ruben specializes in lo-fi production processes and critical design, while Katinka makes complex issues around food and climate tangible and engaging through visual storytelling.

De Hemelwatertoren

De Hemelwatertoren - Close-up

De Hemelwatertoren - Varianten

De Hemelwatertoren - Detail

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