Sunday, January 18, 2015

Water Tank, Catonsville

Water Tank, Catonsville

I've heard that this structure is not actually a water tank. It is probably more accurately referred to as a reservoir but to my uneducated eyes it looks like a water tank so that's what I've called it. To my mind a reservoir is an open body of water, at least that's what I picture in Australia, but I can also see that an enclosed container such as this can also be a reservoir but frankly, who care! For a purely functional structure it's got some nice decoration.

Water Tank, Catonsville

As you can see from the wording above the door it was built in 1937 for the City of Baltimore Bureau of Water Supply.

Water Tank, Catonsville

There is a lovely band of chevrons running around the top of the wall just below the domed roof and the regularly spaced concrete ribs are topped with ziggurat style decoration.

Water Tank, Catonsville

Posted by Unknown
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8 comments:

  1. UCT MediaJanuary 19, 2015 at 1:03 AM

    It's gorgeous. I think it's more of a water reservoir. Even if it looks like an oil storange from the 30's.

    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bfGJ_2ehOWQ/VKlRKZn-C5I/AAAAAAAA4zE/aDeANWAW77I/s1600/1012800_545407065547088_433210225_n.jpg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 19, 2015 at 10:31 AM

      You don't work for the Bureau of Water Supply do you? :-)
      I will try to refer to it as a reservoir from now on. lol

      Delete
  2. SuzassippiJanuary 19, 2015 at 3:19 AM

    How beautiful--a utilitarian structure becomes a work of art!

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    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 19, 2015 at 10:28 AM

      Just because we need these things in our neighbourhoods doesn't mean they have to be ugly.

      Delete
  3. HelsJanuary 19, 2015 at 1:17 PM

    "For a purely functional structure it's got some nice decoration" :) I LOVE that decoration.

    Some of the most elaborately decorated structures in the world were not only functional and boring, but icky as well. Think of sewage and pumping stations eg Crossness pumping station

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    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 19, 2015 at 2:05 PM

      Surely you don't mean the Crossness Pumping Station is ugly?

      Delete
    2. HelsJanuary 21, 2015 at 1:26 AM

      the exact opposite! The more shitty the function, the more beautiful the decoration.

      Delete
    3. UnknownJanuary 25, 2015 at 7:15 AM

      I knew I must have misunderstood!

      Delete

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