Permanent Infrastructure in a Temporary City

Millions have been in the tent city of Mina in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Though the crowds are temporary, the infrastructure built to handle them is permanent.

1 minute read

November 24, 2010, 5:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


This post from The Pop-Up City looks at the air conditioning unit that cools the tents used during the Hajj, and the bridges built for the masses of pedestrians.

"Maybe the most interesting construction in Mina is the Jamarat Bridge. It is built to facilitate the movement of worshippers arriving from various directions. The bridge has 24 access routes and 11 gates linking it to the mountains from all directions. Currently there is 5 levels of the bridge, which can be extended to 12 in the future."

Saturday, November 20, 2010 in The Pop-Up City

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 20, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A yellow, two-story building named Ferns with two American flags.

This MA town is drowning in its own sewage — and residents like it that way

Susan Murcott, a waste water expert, said if Carlisle didn't address their leaking sewage, the problem could turn “deadly.”

October 22, 2026 - Boston Globe

Amtrak officials cut the ribbon at the new Seattle facility.

Amtrak cuts ribbon on Seattle Airo maintenance facility

The $250 million, nearly 100,000-square-foot building can house an entire Cascades Airo trainset.

30 minutes ago - Railway Supply

One of Google's power plants pumping pollution into the air.

To power data centers, Google seeks autonomous control of thousands of homes’ electricity

The tech company has signed a deal to indirectly pay Mid-Atlantic residents to reduce their power demand when the grid is strained.

1 hour ago - New York Times

A crowd of people around one of Honolulu's automated trains.

From robotaxis to robotrains: LA, DC weigh driverless transit

If approved, the projects will take years to implement and face financial and technical hurdles.

2 hours ago - The Associated Press