4 ms·
Reminds me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gimignano https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gimignano or the other Italian city-states like Florence. Same appar
by gwern 9y ago
Reminds me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gimignano https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gimignano or the other Italian city-states like Florence. Same apparent dynamics, too: lots of insular clans creating little fortresses for their extended families while competing economically & socially inside the density of the city, always teetering on the edge of civil war.
- vtange 9y agoIf you like the idea of clusters of building complexes you'd also find interest in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City
- gwern 9y agoYeah, Kowloon is cool but driven by different dynamics. Closer to Arcosanti or Tokyo than Shibam.
- wdewind 9y agoWould you mind expanding on this comment? I want to understand what you mean :)
- jacquesm 9y agoWhen Gwern expands on a comment expect a book length article with everything remotely relevant cited and leaving nothing but a wasteland for future researchers.
- nashashmi 9y agoI had to look up Gwern: I found this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5660220 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5660220 fascinating!
- jacquesm 9y agohttp://www.gwern.net/ http://www.gwern.net/ Hope you have a couple of spare days. Make that weeks.
- wdewind 9y agoThat's what I'm hoping for :)
- idlewords 9y agoDon't overlook the usefulness of tower structures for cooling and ventilation in this climate.