Hydroscape
Year: 2025 Design & Honor Awards | Category: Student Project
Located in Asheville, North Carolina, Hydroscape is an environmental awareness and community center cantilevered over the French Broad River. Utilizing an HSS steel structure, the architecture spans the historic river, symbolizing sustainability and unity. Hydroscape’s mission is to promote water management and sustainability practices, empowering individuals and communities to embrace eco-conscious lifestyles. This center includes labs, classrooms, research exhibits, study spaces, outdoor decks, river platforms, a stage for events, and an atrium. The integrated water filtration system treats and reuses water, eventually returning it to the environment. Hydroscape fosters education, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, inspiring a sustainable future.
Design Challenge
The primary design challenge for Hydroscape was to create a sustainable and community-oriented structure that could span over the French Broad River while preserving the surrounding ecosystem. The project required a balance between environmental conservation, functionality, and aesthetics, resulting in architectural solutions that respected the natural environment while meeting the needs of the community.
Hydroscape addresses this challenge through integrated water management systems. These include rainwater harvesting, greywater filtration, and retention ponds not only help replenish the local groundwater but also provide clean water to the heavily polluted river. The HSS steel structure is thoughtfully to cantilever over the river, minimizing the building’s ecological footprint while emphasizing the connection between architecture and nature. Additionally, the building’s south-facing facade features a carefully designed envelope with angled panels designed to optimize sunlight exposure and views. These panels maximize energy efficiency by harnessing the sun’s energy during winter months while minimizing heat gain in the summer. The gaps between the panels gradually grow wider as visitors approach the river, creating a visual and physical connection to the water while highlighting its historic significance. This approach reinforces the design’s sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Ultimately, Hydroscape is a model of sustainable architecture, merging innovative structures with a commitment to ecological stewardship and community engagement.
Project Information
Student(s)
Benjamin Cho
School
Savannah College of Art and Design
Project Location
Asheville, North Carolina
Completion Date
5/30/2024
Professor
Dan Brown
