Futuristic Farm House Designed to Collect Rainwater and Shelter Migrant Workers

Two things that fluctuate considerably in the rich farmland of the central plains in the US are water for irrigation and migrant farmers. Aquifers are being depleted and water is becoming an even scarcer resource. Meanwhile, migrant farmers are crucial in our food production model, but often live in inadequate housing during their brief stay. <a href="http://endemicarchitecture.com/" target="_blank">Endemic Architecture</a> proposes a modest farm house that could alleviate both problems. The futuristic home collects, stores and disseminates <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rainwater-collection" target="_blank">rainwater</a> for crop irrigation, while providing a safe and sturdy home for farmers.

Safe, durable and comfortable housing should be a given right for all migrant workers, but often it is not.

Endemic's Farm House is a modest 800 sq ft home with a central living space surrounded by kitchen and dining area, storage, a bathroom and a sleeping area.

Modular by design, these homes could aggregate to form grouped housing or could remain separate next to the field.

The interior is centered around the living room with expansive views of the surrounding farmland.

The geometry of the house is completely attributed to rainwater collection and is covered in watertight pouches or 'canteens' that store up to 34,000 gallons of water.

Floor plan of the 800 square foot home.

This housing model could be appropriate for a large portion of the US.

There is enough rainwater water in the canteens to irrigate 50 acres for nearly 1 month during the cultivation season. In the central plains and mid-western regions of the US, enough rain falls that the canteens might fill as many as 20 times in a year to full capacity.

The canteen skin completely empty.

The canteen skin half full.

The canteen skin completely full.

The home and the water storage is then connected into the farm's irrigation system, whether it is for drip irrigation or for surface watering.