What is Opus Craticium

The chapter concerns Roman housing of the AD II in its noteworthy and rapid evolution which has its source in the political and economic conditions most favorable in the history of Rome. On the basis of some specific structures to be found in Rome and Ostia, the author makes an attempt at demonstrating to what extent this phenomenon was linked to the unifying housing policy in localities of high demographic density in the Empire, one that can already be glimpsed from the end or Nero's epoch. Subsequently, the composition solution common in the designs of new urban quarters are identified and discussed. In particular, the linear portico of the pillared type came to be introduced into the practice of urban planning, imposed by pre-constituted models. Taking into consideration principally the examples from Ostia, the author describes these particular typologies of porticos, comparing them with other structures and realities of the western part of the Mediterranean world.