2024 - SIGNAL WATER LILIES LIGHT

WHY WE FOCUS ON LANDSLIDE ?

The Mekong Delta region has experienced a surge in landslides in recent years, with an estimated 600-700 hectares of land lost annually (2022 -2024). This is exacerbated by climate change, poses a significant threat to the thousands of unauthorized riverside homes in the area. The risk is particularly acute in regions with weak soil foundations, where clay content in the alluvium can reach 30-50%, such as water lilies cultivation areas.

Current landslide warning systems for riverside communities are often inaccessible, slow to react, and lack clear, visual information. This poses a significant threat, particularly in areas with frequent house subsidence.

This project proposes a novel approach utilizing light to indicate riverbed depth, enabling direct, intuitive, and effective landslide prediction for riverside homes. This is necessary for riverside urban planning because house subsidence occurs frequently in recent years.

WHY WE CHOOSE KIEN TUONG VILLAGE?

The project focuses on Kien Tuong Village, a community particularly vulnerable due to the high clay content in the land – which is used for water lilies cultivation – making it prone to erosion.

Kien Tuong Village also faces unique challenges. Poverty necessitates reliance on nighttime water lilies harvesting, where limited visibility creates a drowning risk. Additionally, the unpredictable riverbed depth increases this danger.

WHY WE FOCUS ON WATER LILIES?

The design draws inspiration from the Nymphaea water lilies, a plant specific to Kien Tuong Village. This water lilies bloom only during the flood season (July – November), which unfortunately coincides with the period of highest water levels, increased erosion risk, and greatest landslide danger. The water lily stem length even reflects the flood season water level, offering valuable design insights, using a negative to achieve a positive. Additionally, the water lily leaves provide shade, similar to how the design will need to account for sunlight penetration.

HOW WE DEAL WITH LIGHTING DURING SEASONAL TIDES?

Seasonal tides cause water level fluctuations, impacting riverbed depth. To address this challenge, the project will investigate the intensity of sunlight absorption underwater in different zones: euphotic zone and photic zone. We will also analyze the light absorption capacity and color visibility of the river water itself, considering factors like depth and the fact that turquoise light remains visible up to -10 meters. This information will guide the selection of illuminating material that meet specific color: fluorescent powder; combined with waterproof and light-transmitting materials: environmentally friendly transparent vinylon fabric.