Underwater cathedrals

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Chapf, 500 cubic metres, built 1966 Brütten Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Scharten 1,500 cubic metres, construction 1931 Wettingen Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Wabern, 1,150 cubic metres, construction 1958 Köniz Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Beichlen, 500 cubic metres, construction 2003 Oetwil am See Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Rippertschwand, 3,500 cubic metres, construction 1999 Neuenkirch Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Reben, 2,400 cubic metres, construction 2008 Effretikon Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Munimatt, 1,500 cubic metres, construction 1986 Spreitenbach Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Mühleberg, 5,000 cubic metres, construction 1978 Tagelswangen Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Steingruben, 750 cubic metres, construction 1881 Solothurn Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Lengg (slow filter), 1960 Zurich Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Goffersberg, 2,500 cubic metres, construction 1958 Lenzburg Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Thalbach, 1,500 cubic metres, construction 1899 (renovated 2007) Bregenz Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Belvédère, 4,000 cubic metres, construction 1951-53 (renovated 1989) Baden Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

Chapf, 500 cubic metres, construction 1966 Brütten Silvio Maraini, © Benteli Verlag 2012

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Photographer Silvio Maraini has documented rarely visited spaces: empty underground water tanks. Sublime temples and columns are just some of the elements of these “underwater cathedrals".

From the outside, their existence is only revealed by an inconspicuous entrance. But way below, Maraini found the tanks that store our drinking water – water that is, however, absent. This absence provides a space few people ever see.