Share this page!

Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture
Twitter logo
6 Dec, 4 tweets, 3 min read
The Cornalvo dam in modern Spain, built to supply the large city of Augusta Emerita, in 130 A.D., of stone, concrete and earth. Still in use for household water and irrigation, it holds 826m gallons and is the smaller brother of the nearby Proserpina Dam, holding 1321m.
Jean-Claude Golvin's drawing of Augusta Emerita, founded in 25 B.C., in 130 A.D. it might have had a population of 15,000 (no. of seats in amphitheater) on 125 acres, giving it a higher population density than that of modern Manhattan with all buildings one or two floors only.
The city even with such a large population was easily fed by the agriculture of its immediate hinterland (note the lack of sprawl), it probably exported large amounts of food and other produce and had time for sports and spectacles. Thanks to its well designed dams and aqueducts.
Emerita Augusta was the capital of the province of Lusitania. The most famous remains of the city today is the theatre, built in 15 B.C. Still used to play classical theatre, it seats 3,000 and is a national treasure of Spain.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Wrath Of Gnon

Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @wrathofgnon

Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture
4 Dec
Always wanted a straw roof but couldn't afford it? Use the Northern Scandinavian (Sweden, Finland) technique: by far the cheapest and easiest method of thatching a roof. Ten men (beginners and one instructor) can gather and build a roof in a two room cottage in three days.
Traditionally straw roofs around the northern Baltic were unbound: bunches of rye straw or reeds (both available for free, but rye must be grown first of course, and reed must be cut and gathered) 70cm thick on low pitched roofs kept down by spruce poles and sometimes stones.
Unbound roofs can't be too pitched, so you save on materials and it is easier to work with, but also doesn't last as long. However, even complete beginners can work on this so if you have friends or cousins or teenagers willing to help out, all the better.
Read 4 tweets
Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture
3 Dec
Ivan Illich called the study and sharing of technologies to improve subsistence (food, water, shelter, etc.) done outside the paradigms of industry and progress for "counterfoil research". For example, how to build homes good for both humans and planet without incurring debt.
In economies not yet fully lost to progress, on the edges, in the third world, or abandoned by progress (the rust belt, the ranch, the wetlands, the dead malls), counterfoil research is especially important in bringing a sense of resilience and optimism to ordinary people.
Counterfoil research is a way for un-industrialized countries to exponentially increase quality of life without falling into the traps of industrialization, and it is a way for us in Progressive societies to step outside of the commodity economy and reconnect with the real world.
Read 4 tweets
Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture
30 Nov
Many are confused about what "survivor bias" in architecture and building is. We can tell empirically and show with evidence that certain walls constructions, cuts of timbers, joinery, roof materials, foundations etc., are more likely to last longer than others. That isn't bias.
What is more, style may or may not come into the equation. A steep roof is better at shedding water. A flat roof will require a lot more vigilance in construction and maintenance. Hence, a steep roof is more like to survive. That isn't bias. It is basic construction know-how.
A huge difference between old and new is that in the past we built with the idea that it should be easy to repair by low skilled or even DIY efforts, with cheap and readily available materials. This is obviously no longer the case. Again: that isn't bias. It is basic planning.
Read 4 tweets
Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture
24 Nov
Bedre Byggeskik was a Danish grassroots organization founded in 1915 to promote better buildings more suitable to the local climate and culture and a higher quality of craftsmanship. A neoclassical inspired vernacular form.
The architects of the organization created plans for all types of buildings, from farmsteads to suburban villas or large estate mansions and anyone could request copies of floor-plans which could then be given to local builders.
The founders were also active in building crafts schools and training of youth in how to build better. The proof of their success can be seen in the many of their buildings surviving in extremely good condition and fetching rather high prices in the Danish real-estate market.
Read 4 tweets
Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture
13 Nov
Everything suggested here is awful and self contradictory. There should be ample opportunity to make something better.
Here is a beautiful station in Stockholm, Sweden:
Here is a beautiful station in Maputo, Mozambique:
Read 10 tweets
Wrath Of Gnon Profile picture
5 Nov
A lot of the things that we now like to blame on climate change is really the result of local human actions. For example, the coastal erosion that is plaguing the beautiful Mersea Island (population 6,925) on the coast of Essex, England. Is all coastal erosion really inevitable?
For politicians, "climate change" is a godsend: nothing can be done, no blame can be laid, and no need to investigate further. If action is called for, it comes in the form of a concrete shield that doesn't work and only makes things worse. Meanwhile, the land is disappearing.
In reality, coastal erosion turned out to have human origins: "In the 1920s, Mersea was surrounded by vast, richly biodiverse marshlands. These mudbanks supported meadows of seagrass like eelgrass that played a vital role in reducing the impact of wave energy on the marshland."
Read 9 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @wrathofgnon has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @wrathofgnon!

Read all threads by @wrathofgnon

:(