The distillation works through solar desalination, which relies on two processes: evaporation and condensation. This mirrors the hydrological cycle where water is evaporated by the sun, condensed into clouds and precipitated through rain. In Glogau’s design, the 2.2m diameter canopy is made from two durable plastics which have been sewn together. The upper layer is a transparent UV resistant material which allows solar energy to reach the water while the bottom layer is a heat absorbent plastic which contains the water.

Water is one of the most precious resources on the planet. According to the UN, its scarcity already affects more than 40 % of the world's population. A statistic that raises alarm bells and drives the search for solutions. One of these, and one that is not entirely new, is desalination, which consists of removing the minerals (mostly salt) from seawater through physical and chemical processes. The keys for the coming years are to increase the capacity of desalination plants while reducing their environmental impact.

The portable design merges local resource production with community architecture, providing freshwater and a shaded gathering place. A lightweight, versatile structure configurable in different ways and materials, adapting to local environments and user needs.