The winning design, titled "Bio-inspired Architectural Terracotta for Sustainable Water Harvesting," uses a sophisticated combination of surface physics and digital fabrication. By mimicking the leaf venation of plants and the structure of the Namib Desert beetle, the tiles feature hydrophilic peaks paired with hydrophobic glazed channels. This geometry allows the system to collect fog up to 400% more efficiently than standard flat surfaces, turning building exteriors into decentralized water infrastructure.
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Carnegie Mellon Team Wins 2026 GROHE Water Prize for Fog-Harvesting Tiles
A Carnegie Mellon University research team has secured the £10,000 GROHE Water Prize for a modular terracotta facade system capable of harvesting atmospheric fog. Led by Associate Professor Laura Garófalo, the project draws on biomimicry to capture water from the air, offering a sustainable, plastic-free alternative for arid regions.
Patrick Speck, a jury member and leader at LIXIL Global Design, praised the initiative for transforming facades into active assets rather than passive barriers. The research represents a shift toward material-based solutions that avoid the microplastic pollution associated with traditional synthetic netting. The winning team plans to use the prize funds to transition from experimental prototypes to scalable architectural applications. The project will be presented on November 19 at the World Architecture Festival in Fort Lauderdale, which this year centers on the intersection of water, architecture, and community resilience.
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