Alida (Michelle) Kruger

For decades, the common water hyacinth has destroyed ecosystems and disrupted human water activities in Hartbeespoort Dam. After the weed was introduced in South Africa, it rapidly spread across water bodies. This is a major issue because South Africa has a water scarcity, which can harm built reservoirs that are fed by rivers. The rivers from populated areas contribute to excess chemicals and nutrients allowing for the overgrowth of water hyacinths. Managing the water hyacinth is essential to restore the balance of the ecosystem for a sustainable future.
The ecology of Hartbeespoort Dam is the primary focus and considers a building typology for managing water hyacinth growth and use it as a rhizofiltration system. As a secondary focus, to ensure the sustainability of the project, the design response considers activities that can generate income, allow access to neighbouring communities, and facilitate water ecology education and tourism