Carnegie Mellon University Team Wins GROHE Water Prize for Fog Harvesting System

A team from Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture has been awarded the 2026 GROHE Water Prize, receiving a £10,000 prize for their project "Bio-inspired Architectural Terracotta for Sustainable Water Harvesting."

The project introduces a novel modular terracotta tile system engineered to capture atmospheric fog as a water source in arid, fog-prone regions. Led by Associate Professor Laura Garófalo, the team combines traditional ceramic craftsmanship with digital fabrication and surface physics. Inspired by leaf venation and desert beetles, the tiles feature hydrophilic (water-attracting) clay peaks and hydrophobic (water-repelling) glazed channels, enabling fog capture up to 400% more efficiently than flat surfaces.

This terracotta approach serves as a mineral-based alternative to synthetic plastic netting, eliminating microplastic pollution and reducing the carbon footprint. Designed for future integration into building facades and rainscreen systems, the research suggests exterior walls could become decentralized freshwater collection systems, enhancing local health and climate resilience.

Patrick Speck, Leader for LIXIL Global Design, Europe & Americas and a jury member for the GROHE Water Prize, stated: "At GROHE, we believe the future of water stewardship requires rethinking how our built environment interacts with natural resources. By transforming a building facade into an active water-harvesting asset, this project embodies GROHE's design ethos."

The prize will be presented at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Fort Lauderdale from November 18–20. Since 2017, the GROHE Water Prize has supported innovative projects addressing global water challenges, highlighting the transformative potential of water-conscious design for the built environment.