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Architecture & Infrastructure
21.1 Architectural Styles
| Style | Characteristics | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cog-Industrial | Exposed gears, brass piping, riveted panels. Functional aesthetic where mechanical systems are displayed as decoration. | Automaton Guard Barracks, workshop buildings. |
| Crystal-Resonant | Aether Crystal panels set into metal frames, emitting soft light. Curved surfaces designed to optimize acoustic resonance. | Cog-Sanctum, Crystal Hall, Whispering Spire. |
| Verdant-Mech | Living walls of Gear-Fiber and Aether-Moss integrated into mechanical structures. Rooftop gardens with steam-powered irrigation. | Residential districts, Gear-Inns. |
| Dwarven Fusion | Heavy stone foundations combined with Gnomish brass fittings and gear mechanisms. Found in border towns near Ironspine. | Ironspine Cog-Borough. |
21.2 Key Infrastructure
| System | Description |
|---|---|
| Great Gear | 200-ft bronze gear at Gearhaven's center. Drives the central power grid and symbolizes civic unity. Its rotation is maintained by the Great Boiler's Aether-Steam output. |
| Gear-Net | City-wide copper-wire and crystal-node communication lattice. Transmits Click-Code messages and data. Expandable to inter-city range via Signal Spires. |
| Steam-Lifts | Vertical transportation system powered by Aether-Steam. Connects multi-level buildings and underground districts. |
| Aether-Steam Pipeline | Network of insulated pipes distributing heated Aether-Steam from the Great Boiler to every borough for heating, power, and industrial use. |
| Steam-Carriage Network | Rail and road system of steam-powered carriages connecting Gearhaven to outlying Cog-Boroughs. The central hub is the Steam-Carriage Depot. |
| Whispering Spire Relay Chain | Series of 300-ft crystal towers on mountain peaks. Amplifies Whispering Orb signals for continent-wide communication. |
| Water Reclamation System | Steam-Condensers and Crystal-Resonance Filters purify waste water and redirect it to irrigation and drinking supply. |
21.3 Residential Architecture
- Standard Dwelling: Multi-level townhouses of bronze-plated copper with Gear-Fiber insulation. Each home includes a personal micro-workshop, a steam-heated kitchen, and at least one moving gear element (often a clock or automaton ornament).
- Communal Living: Apprentice dormitories attached to guild halls; shared workshops and dining facilities. Designed to foster collaboration.
- Elder Residences: Quieter, ground-level apartments with enhanced accessibility features and dedicated spaces for Tick-Journal reflection.