When did people decide to build upwards

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the historical context and motivations behind the decision to build upwards in architecture. It covers various time periods and cultures, examining factors such as population density, wealth, and technological advancements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Historical
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the decision to build upwards may have been influenced by land prices, particularly in modern contexts.
  • Others note that ancient Rome had multi-story rental blocks, which were built to accommodate a growing population, despite their structural issues.
  • There is speculation about the motivations for building upwards, including the desire for vantage points or displays of wealth and power.
  • One participant mentions that early human dwellings varied significantly based on location and available materials, from natural caves to stone and wood structures.
  • Historical references to multi-story buildings are made, with assumptions that such structures existed in ancient towns like Jericho, Nineveh, and cities in Old Egypt.
  • There is a biblical reference to high buildings in Babylon, including the Hanging Gardens, although the existence of multi-story common housing in these areas remains uncertain.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the historical aspects of building upwards, with no consensus on which civilization was the first to adopt this practice or the primary motivations behind it.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about ancient structures and their purposes are based on assumptions and lack definitive evidence, leaving certain historical details unresolved.

wolram
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A home can be any thing from a one roomed tent to a palace, but when
did people decide to build upwards and why? i can understand todays
land prices drive buildings upward but was that the original consideration?
 
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In ancient Rome, there were many property "sharks" who built at least four-story rental blocks. These were readily and cheaply constructed, but unfortunately for the inhabitants, they had a nasty habit of falling down again.
For enterprising souls in a city with a large population pressure on it, getting as many people as you could crammed into your own house meant a big profit.
 
For a vantage point perhaps? Or just as a display of wealth/power.
 
It depends where and when.

Early on people lived in natural caves, but some could make cave dwellings.

There are mud and straw huts still in Africa.

Then when tools and skills developed, houses could be build of stone or wood. Wealthy royalty and nobles could build castles, merchants could build mansions, and the vast majority of poor lived in cottages, huts or other small dwellings.

In the US (1600-1800's), people would cut trees and build log cabins. If one had money, one could import lumber. Once lumber (precisely cut timber) could be produced, complicated buildings could be built.

When I bought a house 16 years ago, I bought (mortgaged) what I could afford and have spent nearly as much expanding and upgrading it, so my mortgage is now 1.5x what it was.
 
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Arildno has mentioned (ancient roam) i remember reading that some poor
quarters were multi story in roaman times, but were they the first to build
upwards ?
 
wolram said:
ancient roam
Yes, that's me. I love to roam, especially in ancient places - like ancient Rome. :biggrin:
 
Last edited:
I would assume that multi-storey rental buildings could be found in ancient towns like Jericho, Nineveh, and the cities in Old Egypt.
 
Astronuc said:
Yes, that's me. I love to roam, especially in ancient places - like ancient Rome. :biggrin:
:blushing: my spelling gets worser and worser.
 
arildno said:
I would assume that multi-storey rental buildings could be found in ancient towns like Jericho, Nineveh, and the cities in Old Egypt.

Notably there is a biblical reference to building high in Babylon. See also the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
 
  • #10
selfAdjoint said:
Notably there is a biblical reference to building high in Babylon. See also the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
That would be in Nineveh (wasn't that the capital of the Babylonian kingdom?)
Sure, they had monumental buildings, and grand palaces.


But I didn't want to leave the impression that I knew that they had multi-storey common housings (homes?); I don't know that, but I think it was true.
 

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