COSMO water purifier by andrés jaque opens at MoMA PS1

COSMO water purifier by andrés jaque opens at MoMA PS1
photo by miguel de guzmán / imagen subliminal
all images courtesy of the architect and MoMA PS1

new york’s MoMA PS1 has revealed the 2015 winner of the annual young architects program, a series which offers emerging architectural talent the opportunity to design and construct a temporary, outdoor installation that provides shade, seating, and water. this year’s chosen project comes from andrés jaque, a madrid-born architect who also won the silver lion for the best research project at the 2014 venice architecture biennale directed by rem koolhaas. read on for more information about the work.

the temporary, outdoor installation has been installed within the institution’s courtyard
photo by miguel de guzmán / imagen subliminal

everyday more than two billion gallons of water circulate beneath new york city. designed to make this hidden system of pipes both visible and enjoyable, COSMO is a ‘movable artifact’ made from customized irrigation components. the contraption is engineered to filter and purify 3,000 gallons of water over a four-day cycle; consequently eliminating suspended particles and nitrates, balancing the pH, and increasing the level of dissolved oxygen.

the ‘movable artifact’ made from customized irrigation components
photo by miguel de guzmán / imagen subliminal

the united nations estimates that by 2025 two thirds of the global population will live in countries that lack sufficient water. addressing this serious issue, COSMO is designed as both real-world and online prototype, which can be readily reproduced around the world. furthermore, the structure is seen as a device that will generate discussion, naturally bringing people together. as a result of a complex biochemical design, its stretched-out plastic mesh automatically glows whenever its water has been purified.

COSMO remains on display at MoMA PS1 until september 7, 2015. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

the contraption is engineered to filter and purify 3,000 gallons of water over a four-day cycle
photo by miguel de guzmán / imagen subliminal