Open space Quote by Italo Calvino
““If you choose to believe me, good. Now I will tell you how Octavia, the spider-web city, is made. There is a precipice between two steep mountains: the city is over the void, bound to the two crests with ropes and chains and catwalks. You walk on the little wooden ties, careful not to set your foot in the open spaces, or you cling to the hempen strands. Below there is nothing for hundreds and hundreds of feet: a few clouds glide past; farther down you can glimpse the chasm's bed. This is the foundation of the city: a net which serves as passage and as support. All the rest, instead of rising up, is hung below: rope ladders, hammocks, houses made like sacks, clothes hangers, terraces like gondolas, skins of water, gas jets, spits, baskets on strings, dumb-waiters, showers, trapezes and rings for children's games, cable cars, chandeliers, pots with trailing plants. Suspended over the abyss, the life of Octavia's inhabitants is less uncertain than in other cities. They know the net will only last so long.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, 1972
The city of Octavia is built on a precarious network of ropes and platforms, symbolizing fragile yet resilient human constructs that balance risk and ingenuity.
In simple terms: Octavia is a city hanging over a void, held together by ropes and nets.
Key Takeaway
Embrace ingenuity while acknowledging fragility.
Themes
architecture
risk
human resilience
creativity
balance
Mood
awe
curiosity
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- creative design
- risk assessment
- community building
- education
Key Concepts
suspension
interdependence
impermanence
urban imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reliance on fragile systems affect societal stability?
- What can modern cities learn from Octavia’s balance of risk and creativity?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overlook practical safety concerns and socioeconomic inequalities.
