Come contrastare la scarsità di acqua dolce, mitigare i rischi legati agli uragani, e contemporaneamente mantenere gli interni delle case freschi?

Un articolo di 99% invisible racconta di come nell’arcipelago delle Bermuda le case siano dotate di tetti dal design unico: costruiti originariamente in pietra calcarea, hanno una struttura a gradoni e vengono ritinteggiati di bianco – almeno secondo le indicazioni governative – a distanza di pochi anni. Questo tipo di struttura, infatti, permette di recuperare gran parte dell’acqua piovana e di purificarla, nonché di ridurre i danni causati dalle tempeste.

Early houses made by the island’s first settlers employed wooden frames and frond-covered roofs, but wood was a scarce and valuable resource, so people began to turn toward stone. Bermuda is rich in limestone, which led to a productive symbiosis between excavation and construction: digging out space for foundations and basements naturally frees up great raw building materials for building robust homes. From there came so-called “Bermuda roofs,” which step upward and to Mark Twain’s eye looked like the frosting on a cake. The stone roofs are heavy, helping them withstand high winds when storms strike. They also collect remarkable amounts of water for residents.

Sebbene la presenza sempre più massiccia di turisti e visitatori, così come la disponibilità di tecnologie per la desalinizzazione delle acque, stia contribuendo a cambiare le aree urbanizzate dell’arcipelago, la presenza di questi tetti riflette quanto l’assenza di acqua dolce sia stata interiorizzata dalla popolazione locale nei secoli.

For locals, water-consciousness pervades everyday life. Baths are rare according to Hydrogeologist Shaun Lavis, who lives on the island. Simple things like brushing teeth or doing dishes are done deliberating with an eye toward cistern levels. Historically, since each house has its own tank, residents have learned to keep an eye on their reserves and plan around limitations.