Minamisanriku 's people under water. The Independent source.
- "There was an earthquake near Tokyo my boss told me last Friday. - "Yes, I know" , I answered. "Two days ago there was an earthquake measuring 7" - "No" , I replied. "There have been other much stronger earthquake, near Sendai, a few minutes ago" . and perplexed to see images of Sendai airport completely flooded.
And although strangely, despite living only 500 km from the epicenter, in Kyoto did not feel anything, and we learn as most of you by internet. a few minutes, my distraught wife called me from across the world via Skype, since the phones did not work. As a seismologist, she had received an alert USGS. - "There is a major flaw in the area unstable. We expected a big earthquake, but no one knew he was about to happen ". In the next few hours the world was shocked by the terrible images of this mega-earthquake measuring 9.0 and the devastating tsunami that razed entire villages on the shores of affection the coast of Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate.
It stressed that Japan learned from his past misfortunes, particularly in the Kobe earthquake in 1995 (7.2 Richter scale), and as a result the buildings have held up relatively well, despite the Friday's quake was 500 times stronger. This is due to the strict anti-seismic regulations followed in the construction of buildings. But what no one was ready was the force of the tsunamis. The weekend has been showing increasing the magnitude of the horror of this tragedy, which some sources would exceed 10,000.
Sendai Two stunning views before and after the tsunami. Source The New York Times
Meanwhile, the tragedy does not let up. After the many strong aftershocks have followed explosions at nuclear power plants in Fukushima . In Tokyo there is rationing energy and transport, and all this occurs in late winter, when temperatures in northern Japan can reach 0 degrees. It saddens me to think of those who have lost everything, and they have to survive in the cold of the night. Right now as I write these lines, an alert other 3-meter tsunami approaching the coast of Fukushima, Iwate and Aomori
Explosion at nuclear reactor in Fukushima. Source: News Alert .
What we learn from this lesson planners and architects? Definitely prevention. Japan has, by law, open spaces and shelters where people can go in these cases, in addition to alarm systems that alert the population to 1 minute before the earthquake occurs. But beyond that, Japanese society is an example of solidarity. No one has reported looting, no demands for water or food. No one is here before the others, all make force to seek the common good to misfortune, just as when it happened after the war.
Force, Japan! You're a country that has always been bigger than his misfortunes.
PD. I thank the posts of readers and friends asking about my situation after the earthquake. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Without doubt the most important building Alvar Aalto in Helsinki's Finlandia Hall on , not only by the size and quality his factory, but the importance of this complex was in the planning of the Finnish capital. Although Aalto's plan included this concert hall as part of a much larger urban plan, it is certain that their presence has been the catalyst for the development of several major urban works, such as Kiasma Museum or New Chamber Music.
LOCATION
The elongated building resembles a ship anchored at the end of the Bay of Töölö. Near it is a small hill that starts a belt of vegetation around the bay.
This satellite view is from 2007, when even the new concert hall was beginning its construction. Source Google Earth.
The central plaza of the city of Helsinki, including, was commissioned by Tsar Alexander I of Russia, and its cathedral, designed by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel. In 1961 the city of Helsinki commissioned Alvar Aalto, the most notable Finnish modern architect, the development of a large urban plan for the center of the city, whose most conspicuous building would be a building for Congress and for concerts. This plan, which was never implemented as such, included a number of cultural facilities around the bay. However, it was to make the Finlandia Hall, built between 1967 and 1971.
Stamp Alvar Aalto in Finland Hall as its landmark building.
VOLUMETRIC COMPOSITION
The building is characterized by its flatness and asymmetry, interrupted by the volume of the concert hall and has a truncated trapezoidal shape.
In turn, that horizontality is treated by a sequence of vertical windows that give rhythm to the facade.
The exterior has been covered with Carrara marble, an idea that Aalto took his trip to Italy. He said the material would not need maintenance and colorfulness and joy to the city, characterized by its dark and depressing atmosphere.
However, the architect that this rock did not suffer the ravages of Italian climate in Finland: a difference of 60 ° C (30 ° C in summer and in winter -30 ° C), pollution and large amount of rainfall (marble absorbs cold water and freeze, causing cracks in the stone), which has caused deterioration.
The white contrasts with the copper roof, which speaks to the greenish color of the vegetation surrounding the Hall.
DISTRIBUTION
The building is on three levels and consists of a Congress Hall, a main auditorium for concerts, chamber music hall, conference rooms, display areas and areas Restaurant and services.
nicel By entering, stairs lead us to the foyer, around which are distributed audiences. For Aalto, this was another Italian reminiscence, like balconies that look out on a piazza.
The restaurant seats 600 people and space can be divided into two panels using. While remaining open to the public, mostly for use by members of Congress. INTERIOR
Something that strikes the visitor is the amount of light that this building receives. Even many people who came from the north of the country was surprised to see lots of light and large windows, as they were accustomed to having small windows to keep heat and store energy. Aalto wanted to give vitality to the interior through large windows and glass partitions, whose views were directed to what he had been conceived as a large square in its urban plan.
inside The predominant colors are white, gray, black and neutral colors as the architect wanted his architecture to behave as a neutral background and people bring the color. The main space of the building is obviously the concert hall, which however is used mostly as a center for conferences and congresses. With 2500 m2, 1700 houses and 500 balcony seats.
Inside, white and blue colors represent the colors of the flag of Finland. The interior decoration technique expresses the wood warped, Admas the typical lattice that appears in other works of Aalto, as the City of Säynästalo .
6000 m3 in the acoustic space, Aalto had the idea that music should rise in top of a large space and then descend. Unfortunately, the music never returned and so the sound is not good. In addition, VIP balconies but not very practical, since there are not good visibility and acoustics.
Over time, we included several elements such as mid-height ceiling and removed others, such as carpet. Therefore, it is constructing a new building next to Kiasma will house a modern concert hall, at the Finlandia Hall is used for small concerts in the future, focusing largely on holding conferences.
Another smaller auditorium for chamber music has a capacity of 350 seats. Acoustical panels are original and the wave wall. The cabin was added by translators Elisa Aalto, his second wife. The vermilion red color makes it intimate and warm.
FURNITURE
Aalto was primarily a furniture combines functionality and ease of use with finesse and aesthetic simplicity. Each of the 30 types of lamps were designed by Aalto and his wife. Some of these lamps me recalled those of the Savoy Restaurant we saw earlier
tables are ordinary, and that when put next to each other could be assembled in various ways.
The furniture was made using a technique of twisting of the wood, which for reasons of space will detail in Moleskine Stories.
Masada (1937-1931 BC) is one of the most impressive archaeological sites located in Israel. This fortress, which rises dramatically to the desert and watching the Dead Sea, is a valuable example of integrating architecture to its context, but also a symbol of Jewish resistance against the Romans. The powerful stature with which dominates the landscape, its architectural quality as a villa of the Roman Empire in Judea and their turbulent, tragic and symbolic history have earned him recognition as UNESCO World Heritage .
paranoia
HEROD Herod "the Great" (73 BC - 4 BC) was a cruel king who ruled the Roman provinces of Judea and Galilee and Samaria from 47 to 4 BC To avoid being invaded by the Romans, Herod was provided to be used as a puppet king, always willing and subservient to the interests of the empire. Thus, cities and buildings built in Roman style, named after Caesar as Caesarea Maritima and Sabaste (Greek Sabazios meaning "Augustus").
Hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima, which I hope will be addressed later in this moleskine. Wikipedia photo.
However, when invading empire collaborator, his own people hated him. Knowing that antipathy, the Jews sought to ingratiate himself with rebuilding the great temple of Jerusalem. However, living always think that someday would conspire against him and kill him. This paranoia led him to kill his own wife, three sons, in-law, sons and other family members, and to build impregnable fortresses such as Masada and Herodium, where shelter in case of a rebellion broke out against him. LOCATION
Masada is located south of Jerusalem, in an extraordinarily dry and hot region, especially in the scorching summer, although there is evidence that 2000 years ago the climate was slightly wetter. From there you look superb views towards the Dead Sea, which at the time of the fortress must have been much larger, since irrigation projects in Israel and Jordan they are drying .
The fortress is located on a plateau atop a hill about 440 m high, flanked by vertical cliffs. Currently, we reach the top by cable car.
the fortress of Masada
The fortress was composed of several buildings is mainly grouped in two zones: the north was the palace complex, restrooms and storage, and west stood a group Guest rooms.
Masada Plan: 1. Puerta del Camino of the Snake, 2. Homes of the killers, 3. Byzantine monks' cells, 4. Tanker 5. Homes of the Assassins, 6. Ritual bath (mikveh), 7. South Gate (gate of the tank), 8. Homes of the Assassins, 9. Underground Cistern, 10. South Fortaleza, 11. Cisterna, 12. Mansion, 13. False Columbarium, 14. Byzantine mosaics workshop, 15 and 16. Palaces; 17. Public bath (pool), 18 to 21. Palace West: 18. Service wing, 19a and 19b. Residential area; 20. Cash, 21. Administrative buildings; 22. Tower of tanning; 24. Byzantine Gate West, 24. Columbaria Torres, 25. Synagogue, 26. Byzantine Chapel, 27. Building fitting, 28 to 38. North Palace: 28. Commander's residence, 29. Quarry, 30. Commander's headquarters, 31. Watchtower; 32. Administrative buildings; 33. Door 34a and 34b. Cash, 35. Bathhouse; 36. Of the den, 37 to 39. Private Herod 37. Upper terrace, 38. Intermediate terrace, 39. Lower terrace. Other points of interest: A. Bunker where they found several scrolls, B. Herod's throne room; C. Mosaic of colors, D. Gap in the wall where it entered the Roman army, E. Treasury shekels of silver, F. Place where they found several scrolls, G. Stay where they found three skeletons. Source Wikipedia
The whole was surrounded by a double wall 6 m high, interspersed with turrets. The wall extended 1400 m 3 was interrupted by fortified gates.
3D reconstruction of the fortress. Image courtesy of History Channel.
Construction
The walls were built of stone and covered with stucco dolomite. The thickness of the walls had for seismic and climate, to counteract the temperature variations between day and night.
The black line marks the original level of strength before the restoration.
Water supply The fortress of Masada is equipped with large water tanks, fed by canals and dams that captured the low rainfall in the area.
water catchment system on the strength
Channels set in the rock. Somehow I did remind the contemporary and not far away if Petra.
This response site, this guy poured a little water and watch the collection channels and lead to tanks of the fortress.
The water was then transported by donkey and stored in large tanks like this. In this way it could survive for long inside the fort in case of siege.
Pendant Palace
In the far north, separated from the rest of the fortress by a wall, was the residence of Herod, a village that is dramatically bet as in the bow of a boat. The property comprises three terraces linked by a staircase built into the rock.
can still see the remains of the luxurious decor, done in black and white mosaics. Highlights a semicircular room with two rows of columns, which behaves like a large balcony overlooking the landscape.
Bathrooms
"The interior finish-chambers, colonnades, and baths, were of multiple styles and very sumptuous"
Flavius \u200b\u200bJosephus
strength with comfortable palace, and Roman baths. As mentioned in the case of Baths of Caracalla, the baths were a function not only hygienic but also social and cultural, that Herod appreciated. The bathrooms consisted of a Frigidarium (cold baths), a Tepidarium (warm baths) and a caldarium (hot baths).
false floor system used for heating water. The floor was raised allowing the hot air circulation underneath. Later it was piped into the clay walls to radiate heat and bring to temperature in the room.
The bathrooms were surrounded by a patio where bathers exercised, and were decorated with colorful frescoes which, according to Jewish custom, dispensed with human figures.
During the revolt the baths were used for Jewish purification ceremonies, including ritual baths or milkvehs . Synagogue
The Zealots were religious fanatics and needed a place to read the Torah. Conditioned why this building, which originally would have been a barn and turned it into a synagogue. This is because one of the oldest synagogues discovered. The rebels changed the internal structure of the conditioned space and a small room to deposit the sacred scrolls. Remains of these texts were found in excavations in the floor.
reconstruction can be seen in the stands that were made around the central space to accommodate special people to prayer. It can be seen the black line that marks the original wall.
Stores Here were two rows of department stores be collected non-perishable food: dates, olives, nuts, salt, oil, wine, etc.., as has been found in archaeological excavations.
Columbaria
were three towers- columbaria at Masada, the lower part was used as a loft, while the top was a watchtower used for surveillance. On the walls are hundreds of niches that housed the pigeons. These were used as sources of food and fertilizer for crops.
the Jewish rebellion.
Many years after the death of Herod in 66 AD, a rebellion broke out in Judea, it was crushed in 70 AD by General Vespasian and his son Titus (we saw this moleskine how both father and son Subsequent emperors used the spoils of this war to build the Colosseum in Rome ). However, a fundamentalist rebel group called the Zealots or Sicarii (the Latin word meaning Sicari "dagger men"), took refuge in the fortress of Masada. Joining them are women and children also joined, forming a group of 1000 people.
According to myth, this site impregnable resistance lasted 3 years, until in 72 AD the Romans decided to build a ramp to attack. Knowing lost, the Jews decided to kill their wives and children and then kill themselves, before falling into slavery (actually, since the Jewish religion forbids suicide, would kill one aOther and one man committed suicide at the end) . When entering the fort the Romans were greeted by a stony silence. This is known by the testimony of some women who took refuge in a hideout, and lived to tell what happened.
This is the version of Roman-Jewish historian Josephus , who today is seen by many as a traitor (at least it was for the man who guided us through the set). However, modern historians have questioned the validity of his account, as Josephus was in Rome when he revolt. Moreover, some argue that it has exaggerated the heroism of the gunmen, who were not part of the great upheaval and that simply were expelled from Jerusalem. On the other hand, argue that it is logical that the mighty Roman army, an expert in war, has been 3 years hanging around the fort, especially in the hot desert climate. Probably Romans were devoted smash other regions where there were also rebellions Judea, Masada leaving for the final.
Around the fortress the Romans under the command of Flavius \u200b\u200bSilvio, 8 camps built a fortified wall surrounding the site entirely. Remains of these camps can still be seen today, and realize the organization of the Romans to carry out large companies such as the construction of the ramp.
According to studies, the ramp was built in a relatively short time (probably less than 2 months), using wood and clay encasetonados that overlapped crosslapped for reaching an inclination relativamente empinada, ahorrando material y acelerando el tiempo de su construcción.
Esto se debió a que, de acuerdo a estudios de resonancia magnética, había ya una protuberancia natural sobre la que los romanos asentaron relativamente poco material (aprox. el 10%), mucho menos del que parece a simple vista.
Sección de la rampa mostrando la roca natural y la pequeña cantidad de relleno usada para crear la rampa. Imagen cortesía de History Channel.
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