Shenu: Hydrolemic Systemtakram

A Japanese design engineering team has proposed an unusual solution to post-disaster water shortages -- a set of artificial organs that conserve water better than those of own bodies.

Takram's "Hydrolemic System" came about after the engineers were given the task of creating a water bottle to be used in a post-apocalyptic environment. Instead, the group took a more novel approach, concluding that it would be far more beneficial to help the body retain and make better use of the little water it had access to. 

The human body requires 2000ml of water a day, affirms Takram, however much of this is lost naturally through exhalation, sweating and excretion. Adapting the body to conserve more water rather than losing it through these processes is key to the "Hydrolemic System". 

A day in the life of a post-apocalypse survivor should begin with a "Rubedo candy", says Takram. Five of these white, hard shelled "candies" contain a person's daily-required intake of nutrients and 32ml of water.

Then on to conserving those precious millilitres. First off, a nasal cavity insert could trap moist air from the lungs through condensation. This moisture would be returned on inhalation and, in this way, we should retain all 300ml a day we usually lose just by breathing.

The dual-action "Arterial-Jugular Heat Exchangers" would not only inhibit perspiration but generate electricity from excess body heat. The "Heat Irradiant Neck Collar" could then convert this electricity back into heat, which would be filtered back to the body via titanium grills. This should help replace the temperature-regulating function usually fulfilled by our sweat glands.

Next stop are the rather descriptive "Urine Concentrator" and the "Renal Fecular Dehydrator" organs, which pretty much do what they say on the tin. The former is a "microcosmic water filtration and uric concentration plant", while the latter "elongates fecal duration in the large intestine and squeezes out any remaining water".

If Takram's vision of our post-apocalyptic world -- a blood-dripping representation of an uninhabitable Earth where radiation and sea levels are high, and drinking water is at an unimaginable low -- is anywhere near accurate, the words "elongate fecal duration" won't seem so tough to swallow.

We are not entirely sure about Takram's cheery outlook that humanity's impending doom will provide "an opportunity, not lament, to re-evaluate what constitutes art, design, culture and the quality of life itself when all prejudices and preconceptions vanish". Nevertheless, the premise is intriguing. 

Previous concepts realised by the Takram team include water-repellant toys and a six-legged running robot named Phasma.

Image: Bryan Christie/Takram Design Engineering


  1. How the hell are we going to make let alone fit this things if the world has just gone through a massive disaster?!

    I think a water bottle was probably a better idea.  

    Jun 28th 2012
  2. Anyone Read "Dune"  

    Jul 3rd 2012
  3. Thanks for the Photo.
    Yakimono Paris  

    Oct 9th 2012

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