Architecture extends beyond the confines of reality, often existing solely in a fictitious realm. While architects generate countless ideas throughout their careers, only a fraction materializes due to real-world constraints. Yet, human imagination is what propels us forward, exceeding these limitations. Our imagined visions manifest in art, with stories necessitating a backdrop to set the stage. Enter the art of place-making and world-building, where architecture has served as storytelling’s backdrop since time immemorial.
Fictional works become vital case studies for architecture students, allowing them to explore created worlds and push their creative boundaries. These works enable students to delve into imaginative realms crafted by others, encouraging them to stretch their limits of creativity. It is through the study of fictional architecture that students can immerse themselves in alternative environments, expand their design vocabulary, and embrace unconventional possibilities. By examining these landscapes, students develop a deeper understanding of the interplay between architecture and storytelling. They grasp the importance of creating immersive experiences, evoking emotions, and infusing narratives into their future designs. Through fictional architecture, students embark on a journey of limitless exploration and discovery, shaping them into visionary architects capable of transforming the built environment.
Stretching the boundaries of creativity and imagination
Fictional architecture acts as a catalyst for creative thinking and encourages students to explore unconventional design ideas. For instance, Lebbeus Woods, one of the most influential conceptual architects of all time, believed that higher virtue lay in not having most of his work built. He raised questions rather than providing solutions to clients, corporations or governments. He challenged the very ideas of hierarchy and the physical distribution of power. His work inspires radical ideas and concepts that encourage individuals to broaden their horizons and embrace the potential for transformative change.
Another great example is the design of the city of Coruscant in Star Wars. The architectural design of the city also reflects its role as the political and cultural centre of the galaxy. The towering brutalist skyscraper, interconnecting walkways suspended high above the city, futuristic holographic advertisements, floating platforms and gravity-defying structures that go beyond conventional architectural and natural norms. The city’s vertical density, efficient transportation systems, and creative use of space provide valuable insights into addressing the challenges of urbanization and population growth in the real world.
Cultural and Historical significance
The architecture depicted in Frank Herbert’s Dune is a distinct take on what the future looks like. The architecture is more in harmony with the surroundings and cultures of different planets with characteristics of its own. The visual language of the film combines elements of futuristic aesthetics with references to real-world cultures such as Berber, Bedouin, and Tibetan. Arakis is a desert planet which contains houses that are mostly underground, following the terrain of the desert. They are underground to avoid the harsh sand storms and heat waves inflicted upon this planet regularly. This is in stark contrast to the capital city of the planet of Caldan, with its lush greenery and abundance of water bodies. The world-building of Dune is a great example of aspirational futuristic architecture that does not necessarily digress from cultural and geographical impact.
Let’s take a look at the work of legendary director Hayao Miyazaki. He creates worlds that not only serve as a backdrop but are used as a tool for storytelling. The bathhouse in his movie Spirited Away is designed in such a way that it seems mysterious and oftentimes incomprehensible and confusing to the viewers. That is a deliberate attempt to maintain the intrigue and other-worldly charm of this mystical place. The architecture of the Bathhouse is used as a tool to convey the toxicity of hustle culture and serves as a visual representation of clogs on a wheel mindlessly going about just doing their job every day.
Spatial Analysis and Visualisation
World-building is something that allows, in the case of readers to go beyond the intended activity of just reading and gives cues to help visualize the world brought to life by the author. J.R.R Tolkien is considered to be the pioneer of immersive world-building through his legendary fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings. With a blend of fantastical and real-world inspirations, the author wanted to explore themes of philology, Roman Catholic Christianity, fairy tales and Celtic and Nordic Mythology which is reflected in the architecture showcased in this world. The architecture of The Lord of the Rings uses world-building to not just captivate people with its visual appeal but also as a tool used to tell stories of cultures and histories of Middle Earth. The hobbit holes of the Shire, with their round doors and cosy interiors, reflect the simple and contented nature of the hobbits. The dark and imposing structures of Mordor, such as the Barad-dûr, convey a sense of evil and oppression. The architecture of The Lord of the Rings implores one to understand the relationship between architecture and the environment, the importance of symbolism and storytelling in design, and how architecture can reflect the values and aspirations of a civilization.
The world of Harry Potter is another great example of reimagining elements of pre-existing societies and cultures while adding elements true to the Wizarding World that only exist in this universe. There is a blend of several architectural styles including Norman Romanesque, Gothic and Gothic Revival. The architectural elements of this franchise serve as tools for storytelling and transitioning from the real world to the Wizarding World. The gravity-defying structures of Diagon Alley lay right next to the bustling streets of London. It is a beautiful allegory of the co-existence of a secret society right alongside mankind.
Conclusion
Case studies on fictional architecture allow us to explore ideas and genres of design which don’t have any real-life constraints. This is beneficial to the concoction of unrestrained ideas which in turn could allow one to explore the possibilities of those existing in the real world. Some of the greatest works of architects have been unbuilt. In a way, those works are fictional as well. They only exist on paper and will probably never exist. But one could argue that it showcases their architectural visions way better than their built projects ever could.
References
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268280483_The_Role_of_Fiction_in_Experiments_within_Design_Art_Architecture_-_Towards_a_New_Typology_of_Design_Fiction
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306000011_Significance_of_Future_Architecture_in_Science_Fiction_Films
https://www.wired.com/2013/02/lebbeus-woods-conceptual-architect/
https://www.egororlovrus.com/cybertopia-future-of-an-architecture-space-death-of-analogous-cities
https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/in-dune-the-architecture-of-the-future-is-all-about-harmony-with-the-landscape/
https://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/a38066050/dune-set-design/
https://www.hendricksarchitect.com/architecture/hogwarts-castle-architecture#:~:text=The%20style%20of%20Hogwarts%20has,Romanesque%2C%20Gothic%20and%20Gothic%20Revival.
