03-13-2014, 05:02 AM
kaialoha,
The location and design of my catchment tank is unusual. The design is brilliant and was conceived of by the original owner (I can take no credit). It might be hard to duplicate without the right topography. I'll try to paint a picture. My house sits pretty far back on the lot and when seen straight on appears to be built on a slab. However, it is actually on post and pier and sits about 4 feet off of the ground. This is apparent when viewed from one side -- the side where you can crawl under the house. The illusion that the house is on slab is possible because it sits in a kapoho (a depression, or perhaps a puka or big hole). You cannot see the hole because the house sits in it and the floor of the house is level with the top of the hole.
If you continue out the back door of the house, you will step into a patio area that also appears to be at grade. However, that patio, too, is built over a hole and so is above grade. The deck or patio area actually is higher than a man but because it is in a puka, you don't realize it. Once on the patio deck, you will see the hatch to the catchment. It is pretty well concealed because it emulates the design pattern of the deck. When you lift that up, you are looking into a very larger rectangular concrete box that holds the rain hits the roof. That box sits below deck in.....you guessed it -- the puka! So basically, you have an above-grade house and deck that appears to be at grade but is not because it is in a hole. The hole is concealed for the most part by what sits in it: A house, a patio deck a lawn and a catchment tank.
I am not certain if the puka is natural or if it was dug out. But digging a hole this size would be very expensive and so I think the design takes advantage of a feature that is mostly natural ---picture a flat lot, a six or seven foot rise in that lot, and a trough (so to speak) behind that rise that levels out at the other end. The house and catchment tank sit in that trough.
You are welcome to come by and see it sometime but I think the design takes advantage of features peculiar to this lot.
The location and design of my catchment tank is unusual. The design is brilliant and was conceived of by the original owner (I can take no credit). It might be hard to duplicate without the right topography. I'll try to paint a picture. My house sits pretty far back on the lot and when seen straight on appears to be built on a slab. However, it is actually on post and pier and sits about 4 feet off of the ground. This is apparent when viewed from one side -- the side where you can crawl under the house. The illusion that the house is on slab is possible because it sits in a kapoho (a depression, or perhaps a puka or big hole). You cannot see the hole because the house sits in it and the floor of the house is level with the top of the hole.
If you continue out the back door of the house, you will step into a patio area that also appears to be at grade. However, that patio, too, is built over a hole and so is above grade. The deck or patio area actually is higher than a man but because it is in a puka, you don't realize it. Once on the patio deck, you will see the hatch to the catchment. It is pretty well concealed because it emulates the design pattern of the deck. When you lift that up, you are looking into a very larger rectangular concrete box that holds the rain hits the roof. That box sits below deck in.....you guessed it -- the puka! So basically, you have an above-grade house and deck that appears to be at grade but is not because it is in a hole. The hole is concealed for the most part by what sits in it: A house, a patio deck a lawn and a catchment tank.
I am not certain if the puka is natural or if it was dug out. But digging a hole this size would be very expensive and so I think the design takes advantage of a feature that is mostly natural ---picture a flat lot, a six or seven foot rise in that lot, and a trough (so to speak) behind that rise that levels out at the other end. The house and catchment tank sit in that trough.
You are welcome to come by and see it sometime but I think the design takes advantage of features peculiar to this lot.