OutSide In House by Fernanda Vuilleumier Studio, Puerto Natales, Chile

The longstanding water crisis in California has turned our attention to structural features that can minimize a home’s impact on the environment — but this time, things might get a little wet. Rather than depending solely on a region’s public water supply, incorporating rainwater harvesting and collection systems can provide a supplemental source of water for drinking (the quality is often better than surface water), cleaning, irrigation, and bathing.

For homes located in remote areas, or in times of drought, rainwater harvesting systems can become the main water supply, if enough rainwater is properly stored. Homes with rainwater harvesting systems often use slightly pitched roofs to filter rainwater into storm pipes, which feed into large cisterns underground for storage and later use.

(Read more via architizer.com)