Challenges of open design in low-income communities: a case study of residential rainwater harvesting systems
Challenges of open design in low-income communities: a case study of residential rainwater harvesting systems
复制标题
低收入社区开放式设计的挑战：住宅雨水收集系统案例研究
作者：
Rodrigo Argenton Freire;J. Levänen;J. Bonvoisin
开放式设计（OD）是解决全球可持续性挑战的一种很有前途的方法。然而，与此同时，OD使用量的增加也带来了新的挑战。为了了解OD在特定环境中的潜力，我们采用了住宅雨水收集系统（RWHS）的概念作为案例研究。我们首先确定了RWHS的关键设计特征。之后，我们分析了这些特征在发展中国家低收入社区基层重现的可能性。该分析表明，材料、技能和制造工具的不同限制可能会阻碍当地社区在改善水资源管理时采用OD。根据我们的研究结果，我们认为，如果不能成功地将可复制性、可替代性和适应性集成到设计中，OD过程可能会面临挑战。我们建议以节俭为设计理念，采用参数化设计流程和设计参数作为促进低收入社区OD流程的关键策略。我们还强调在研究的背景下安全和责任方面的重要性。
ABSTRACT Open design (OD) is a promising approach to address global sustainability challenges. At the same time, however, the increased use of OD brings new challenges. To understand the potential of OD in a specific context, we adopted the concept of a residential rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) as a case study. We first identified the critical design features of the RWHS. After that, we analysed the potential for local reproduction of these features at the grassroots level of low-income communities in developing countries. This analysis revealed that varying limitations related to materials, skills, and manufacturing tools may hamper the adoption of OD by local communities when trying to improve their water management. In the light of our findings, we argue that OD processes are likely to face challenges if replicability, substitutability and adaptability are not successfully integrated into the design. We suggest a design-for-frugality mindset and adoption of parametric design processes and design parameters as key strategies to boost OD processes in low-income communities. We also stress the importance of safety and liability aspects in the studied context.