An impluvium is the shallow, built basin in the middle of the floor of a Roman atrium, in which rainwater was collected. The water ran down the inward-sloping roofs through an opening in the roof — the compluvium — and gathered in the impluvium.
How it works
The atrium was the central, partly open space of a Roman townhouse (domus). The four surrounding roof surfaces sloped inward and led rainwater to the compluvium, the rectangular opening in the roof. Below it, the impluvium caught the water.
Applications
- Water collection — the collected rainwater was led from the impluvium into an underground cistern and used as drinking and household water
- Climate — the opening and the water basin brought light, air and cooling into the house
- Display — the impluvium, often finished in marble or mosaic, was an eye-catcher in the atrium
The impluvium is an early example of considered rainwater management in housing: the roof, the roof opening and the basin together formed one system to catch, drain and store rainwater.
Related terms
- Atrium
- Cistern
- Patio
- Domus
- Rainwater drainage
- Mosaic
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