But where are the wretched hives of scum and villainy?

June 25, 2009 1:23 PM

The Architects' Journal (home of British architecture) has recently listed their top 10 architectural features of Star Wars. The article cites the Sandcrawler of Tatooine (possibly inspired by the Hôtel du lac in Tunisia, and in turn may have influenced Casa da Música [virtual tour, requires Quicktime] ), gave Bright Tree Village an honorary rating of BREEAM Excellent (top marks for environment-friendliness and sustainability), then embrace the Ecumenopolis that is Coruscant. This is not the first discussion of the architectural styles of the Star Wars universe. George Lucas once said "I'm basically a Victorian person," referring to his love of "all kinds of old things," including sort of Art Deco or Art Moderne-type. The retro-futuristic styles of Star Wars has gone on to inspire others.
posted by filthy light thief (12 comments total)

I thought most of the original designs were by Ralph McQuary.
posted by doctor_negative at 1:52 PM on June 25, 2009

No mention of Ralph McQuary, or Doug Chiang? For shame!
posted by joelf at 2:13 PM on June 25, 2009

did they say that the unfinished death star influenced the work of a designer from the 18th century?
posted by joelf at 2:18 PM on June 25, 2009

George Lucas once said "I'm basically a Victorian person," referring to his love of "all kinds of old things," including sort of Art Deco or Art Moderne-type.

Much like how I talk of my love for the Gothic Revivalist style when describing my affinity for the Chrysler Building.
posted by 7segment at 2:21 PM on June 25, 2009

The Art Deco or Art Moderne-type link includes Doug Chiang's art and his comments on the conceptual art developed for the city of Coruscant.

Star Wars architecture isn't a regurgitation of Victorian sensibilities and styles, but pulls together a lot of "old things." More of his quote, from another source: "My hobby is architecture but most of the architecture I do is retro, mostly Frank Lloyd Wright and Victorian."
posted by filthy light thief at 2:58 PM on June 25, 2009

And now there are tags for Doug Chiang and Ralph McQuary
posted by filthy light thief at 2:59 PM on June 25, 2009

They also posted the top ten architecture of computer games but it was disappointingly shallow considering the parallels between game environment design and building design.
posted by ham at 3:11 PM on June 25, 2009

More Doug Chiang goodness here and here. An astonishing draftsman; way back in the day I discovered his sketches on display down in the ID department at CCS. Large sheets of paper filled with space ship dog fights, and the pure love of drawing. He draws like someone who has never touched a drop of coffee, every line exactly where it should be... (sigh).
posted by Bron at 3:36 PM on June 25, 2009

Here in Ottawa, there are some of us who think the Ottawa War Museum's architectural centre owes its inspiration to Lucas's Sandcrawler.
posted by Mike D at 5:34 PM on June 25, 2009

It's McQuarrie, people, McQuarrie.
posted by armage at 5:53 PM on June 25, 2009

I feel the architecture of Half-Life 2 deserved a mention in the Top ten architecture of computer games article, but that might just be me being a non-architect and all.
posted by Harald74 at 11:55 PM on June 25, 2009

did they say that the unfinished death star influenced the work of a designer from the 18th century?

Well, it was "a long time ago" so the unfinished Death Star definitely preceded the 18th century on Earth. How that information was transmitted from "a galaxy far, far away" is the more pressing question.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 11:47 AM on June 26, 2009 [1 favorite]