Today’s Quiz: What am I?
What am I? -- Kanazawa-city, Ishikawa-ken, Japan -- Copyright 2008 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/1.8, ISO 250 — map & image datanearby photos
What am I?

Here's a hint: a correct answer names something practical, not ornamental.


All 10 comments so far, oldest first...

It looks like a downcomer on a clarifier at a water treatment plant. Or something like that.

— comment by Sean Phillips on June 9th, 2008 at 11:01pm JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

Solar powered heater system for water… 😀

— comment by Carlos Perez on June 10th, 2008 at 12:33am JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

A fountain. But “practical” ,so it’s a sprinkler.

— comment by Chiharu on June 10th, 2008 at 1:31am JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

Since some of the pipes have lost their shape, indicating hot water flow,
I guess it is something to do with hot water spring

— comment by britto on June 10th, 2008 at 9:37am JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

Can I guess? I’m guessing a purifier or something for a fish tank?

— comment by Chris on June 10th, 2008 at 7:26pm JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

Some sort of radiator (s)

— comment by Mel Lammers on June 10th, 2008 at 9:32pm JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

The heating element from a coffee pot?

— comment by nils on June 12th, 2008 at 10:24am JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

I kind of agree with Sean Phillips . Looks like it should seperate water fom a heavier solid. The small vertical pipes drain the water and suspended particules while heavy stuff slide along the main drain.

— comment by Richard in Montreal on June 12th, 2008 at 3:57pm JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

The answer is given on this post about the main train station in Kanazawa, Japan —Jeffrey

— comment by Jeffrey Friedl on June 13th, 2008 at 11:33am JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink

I have to disagree with your hint. Now that you’ve revealed the answer, I do believe that thing is a lot more ornamental than it is practical! I mean, it does provide a service. But, at what cost? It’s not the least bit practical. But it is pretty. And, very cool.

No one says that something practical can’t be ornamental, but it serves its practical purpose to a much wider audience – anyone that can see it – than for those that it’s the least bit ornamental (those within spitting distance who can see how it’s made). Once you get close, though, it’s more interesting than ornamental. It’s not really very ornamental, frankly. Interesting, yes, but not so ornamental. —Jeffrey

— comment by Joanna on June 13th, 2008 at 3:23pm JST (15 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink
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