Beautiful 3D reconstruction of the acropolis of Pergamon, one of the largest cities of the ancient world. Building something of this size is one thing, but how did they supply a city built on top of a 350m tall mountain without springs in an arid climate?
The water infrastructure of Pergamon was a wonder of the ancient world. At first they used cisterns to store rainwater, but the city quickly outgrew what they could possible hope to harvest and store, so they dug deep wells, so deep they could only be used for emergencies...
In the 2nd century B.C. they built a system of clay pipes connecting a series of natural springs up to 25km away to two sediment basins 4km away from the acropolis, at a height of 376m. But the acropolis was separated from the reservoir by a deep valley. How to get water across?
It was impossible to build the normal aqueduct over the valley, so the solution was to use a lead pipe with an inner dimension of 20cm, in effect the first and greatest pressurized water system of the ancient world: 45 liters of water per second, or 3,900m³ per day.
In effect, where the water came out on top of the acropolis, it would have looked like a modern fire hose open at full blast, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for hundreds and hundreds of years. It was even enough to run a world famous spa and health bath resort, an aesklepion.
At its peak in 200 A.D. Pergamon had a population of about 200,000, but by this time water was also supplied via the common aqueducts (thank you, Pax Romana).
People who lived in this city would have had great physique, the hill is so steep many of the streets are sharply zig zag and most streets are fully or partly stairs. Homes were built to face the south to maximize solar gain and heat in winter. Very good economics here.

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More from @wrathofgnon

10 Apr
The 1912 old Yokohama Rubber Co. Hall is a gorgeous example of how to build to achieve comfort in sub-tropical climates without modern air conditioning: tall ceilings and windows and a large cupola ensures natural ventilation, the wrap around porch controls solar (over) heating. Image
All buildings are compromises, and with bearable winters and unbearable summers you build to see you through the summers. Indoor humidity is effectively controlled by plaster and wooden surfaces throughout over a breathable timber frame. ImageImage
The company wanted to tear it down in 2003 but a public and official outcry stopped the destruction and it is now open to the public. Beauty literally saved it. Here are my own photos from today's visit. ImageImage
Read 4 tweets
9 Apr
There is no way we can keep up the waste that is single use packaging. The future will be reusable containers brought from home and bulk markets in everything from wine to shampoo. And we will be better, healthier, richer, and happier for it.
"But Wrath, bringing your old jars to fill with milk or pickles from a barrel is unhygienic!"
"I sterilize my old jars by the dozen, we could've shop staff or machines sterilize the jars customers bring in. It'ld also cut down greatly on food waste to always buy just enough."
“But Wrath, I have a big brain and a phd in economics and your idea is inefficient and expensive. We can't afford it!”
“But we can afford this?”
Read 5 tweets
2 Apr
In temperate climates, if you can't build your town near water you simply build water near your town. The cost of digging a canal deep enough for boat, barge, sail, is peanuts compared to the land value increase. And don't forget to make it the main route, for maximum effect.
If the authorities disapprove tell them it is not a canal but a wetland restoration/preservation project or a commercial aquaculture project to grow ecological fish or crayfish for the local markets.
The goal of course is to have water so clean that on summer nights your town is surrounded by millions of fireflies, an insect so sensitive to pollution only the cleanest waters can host it. And that is surer proof than any Government or corporate greenwashed LEED certificate.
Read 4 tweets
2 Apr
This kind of archeological urbanism might be hard to replicate in new towns or cities, but if you can find a way to do it ("deep urbanism"?) you will have stuck developer gold.
Places are generally better if they preserve as much as possible of what was there before: topography, vegetation, open water, useful buildings should be kept, paths can be turned to streets, level differences should be respected, etc. A clean slate is almost always a bad idea.
One of my favorite examples of layered or "deep urbanism": this is actually futuristic as well, as you can see what were to be, you can imagine what it is to become. You have a continuum here.
Read 6 tweets
26 Mar
68% of Japan is covered in forests, and of this 49% is officially protected and can not be logged or cut. All protected forests belong to one or more of 17 nationally recognized classes, each with a different purpose, management strategy, and use. This thread will list them all.
1. Water Source And Recharge Protection Forest (Kochi) stabilizes the flow & charge of waters that protects and conserves basins, rivers, mitigates floods and droughts.
2. Sediment Erosion Protection Forest (Kanagawa) stops soil runoff and protects downhill and downstream areas.
3. Sediment Collapse Protection Forest (Hokkaido) protects roads, railways etc., from damage by binding soil with roots.
4. Flying Sand and Coastal Erosion Protection Forest (Fukui) protects sandy beaches from erosion and protects inland areas from sand damage and shifting dunes.
Read 11 tweets
24 Mar
Earthen plaster is modernity proof. The techniques, the tools, and the materials, all have remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years. From hillside and field to wall and castle, and eventually return to the same soil it came from. Only the human hand is needed.
The material breathes, won't trap moisture (the bane of modern construction materials), itself toxin free it will even help clean the indoor air of your home.
The ingredients are virtually free, available in every climate on Earth: sand, straw, soil, water.
Read 8 tweets

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