“Mostly not enough water – but dramatic floods”

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    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

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    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

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    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

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    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Feature interview – Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Water presents complex problems to the gambling and entertainment city of Las Vegas. Two young architects from the East Coast are tackling the challenge with a concept that’s as ingenious as it is simple.

Last updated: June 29, 2015 Las Vegas, NV, USA

Water presents complex problems to the gambling and entertainment city of Las Vegas. Two young architects from the East Coast are tackling the challenge with a concept that’s as ingenious as it is simple.

Water presents another type of challenge to Las Vegas, one that would probably surprise most outsiders: The city is regularly inundated by floods. When it rains here, the showers are often so strong that the ground surface, predominantly paved or else bone dry earth, cannot absorb the water fast enough. The water then flows through the streets; the world-famous Strip rapidly turns into a rushing river. Rain showers can lead to disaster in Las Vegas.

Project co-author Caitlin Gucker-Kanter Taylor commented: “So it was quickly clear to us: We need detention basins in the downtown area that can rapidly absorb very large volumes of water.”

Read feature interview in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)