Elven design Philosphy ( mine at least)
Apr 23, 2018 15:11:51 GMT -9
squirmydad and Vermin King like this
Post by berneart76 on Apr 23, 2018 15:11:51 GMT -9
Musings on design, aesthetics, and architectural philosophy on papercraft designing
( long, rambling, probably boring, but putting thoughts down to reference later, and so that people can see my approach to design)
So, after working out the first , rough draft of an Elven model Iโm happy with as room for further development, I can to realize how a large portion of elvish depictions are influenced by Tolkien's work, and the work of others to interpret that, especially in the recent movie adaptions.
I've been doing a lot thinking after I worked out my first, rough draft of a building that I felt happy with as a starting point for an elven line of buildings, and wondering where it would go from that initial point.
That got me to thinking on how elven architecture developed, based in part on nudging from the evolution of a town post that I made. If we are going to run with the fact that Elven (or at least high elven) architecture is at the point of the two most prolific depictions, Tolkien's Halls of the Mountain King in Mirkwood, and Lothlorein, then for me (at least) I needed to understand how that came to be, to be able to develop floorplans and buildings for papercrafting. I mentioned floorplans, as for me, that is a necessity, as I like to design buildings with accessible interiors, and if you don't know where things will be on the inside, how can you develop the outer shell?
Here we come to an odd dichotomy concerning basing elven architecture on Tolkien's works, which are based on other sources interpreting very few ancient reference to elves. As a point of fact, utilizing the Nordic model of elves, there are only 2 recorded instances Viking sagas that mention the elven domains of Aelfheim. The dichotomy comes in that when referencing Tolkien for approaches to elven architecture, the more common and popular depiction is that of Lothlorien or Rivendell, an above ground, exposed, airy, nature accessible design, whereas in Tolkien's writings, the more common, frequent permanent elven domains were underground fortresses/palaces akin to Thranduil's Elven Kingโs halls in Mirkwood. In which case elven buildings would be more like dwarf holds, except with maybe more arboreal/fluid carvings as opposed to the more angular carving of the dwarves.
While a good portion of elvish design is based on Celtic/Nordic fashions I was looking for more sources to draw upon.
This then brings us to physical layout, and how permanent structures have developed among humans at least. Early on, we find a lot of circular or triangular structures i.e. Native American tipis, Mongolian/Eurasian yurts/gers, (the Celtic roundhouse could even be a first attempt at a permanent structure based on Eurasian nomadic yurts/gers) even early Asian/Polynesian structures. This is understandable as a circular structure is self-supporting. As things progress to more permanent structures, buildings become rectangular as a rectangular building is more economical in terms of building materials.
So my thoughts on elven buildings are going to be based on how I see their lifestyle, nomadic/semi-nomadic groups that move between locations in a forest. As they deplete the resources in one area, they work their "magic" to renew growth in that area while they go to occupy a different part of the forest (or a different forest). There might be foundations/platforms in several locations that they can set up their lodgings on, with a few semi-permanent structures such as warehouses at those locations.
This concept will then also influence their larger, more permanent sites, where the elves wish to keep those remembrances of their more mobile life as they move to more permanent wood or stone buildings.
It will be interesting to see how this progresses from these ideas.
Stay tuned!
Tinkering Tom.
( long, rambling, probably boring, but putting thoughts down to reference later, and so that people can see my approach to design)
So, after working out the first , rough draft of an Elven model Iโm happy with as room for further development, I can to realize how a large portion of elvish depictions are influenced by Tolkien's work, and the work of others to interpret that, especially in the recent movie adaptions.
I've been doing a lot thinking after I worked out my first, rough draft of a building that I felt happy with as a starting point for an elven line of buildings, and wondering where it would go from that initial point.
That got me to thinking on how elven architecture developed, based in part on nudging from the evolution of a town post that I made. If we are going to run with the fact that Elven (or at least high elven) architecture is at the point of the two most prolific depictions, Tolkien's Halls of the Mountain King in Mirkwood, and Lothlorein, then for me (at least) I needed to understand how that came to be, to be able to develop floorplans and buildings for papercrafting. I mentioned floorplans, as for me, that is a necessity, as I like to design buildings with accessible interiors, and if you don't know where things will be on the inside, how can you develop the outer shell?
Here we come to an odd dichotomy concerning basing elven architecture on Tolkien's works, which are based on other sources interpreting very few ancient reference to elves. As a point of fact, utilizing the Nordic model of elves, there are only 2 recorded instances Viking sagas that mention the elven domains of Aelfheim. The dichotomy comes in that when referencing Tolkien for approaches to elven architecture, the more common and popular depiction is that of Lothlorien or Rivendell, an above ground, exposed, airy, nature accessible design, whereas in Tolkien's writings, the more common, frequent permanent elven domains were underground fortresses/palaces akin to Thranduil's Elven Kingโs halls in Mirkwood. In which case elven buildings would be more like dwarf holds, except with maybe more arboreal/fluid carvings as opposed to the more angular carving of the dwarves.
While a good portion of elvish design is based on Celtic/Nordic fashions I was looking for more sources to draw upon.
This then brings us to physical layout, and how permanent structures have developed among humans at least. Early on, we find a lot of circular or triangular structures i.e. Native American tipis, Mongolian/Eurasian yurts/gers, (the Celtic roundhouse could even be a first attempt at a permanent structure based on Eurasian nomadic yurts/gers) even early Asian/Polynesian structures. This is understandable as a circular structure is self-supporting. As things progress to more permanent structures, buildings become rectangular as a rectangular building is more economical in terms of building materials.
So my thoughts on elven buildings are going to be based on how I see their lifestyle, nomadic/semi-nomadic groups that move between locations in a forest. As they deplete the resources in one area, they work their "magic" to renew growth in that area while they go to occupy a different part of the forest (or a different forest). There might be foundations/platforms in several locations that they can set up their lodgings on, with a few semi-permanent structures such as warehouses at those locations.
This concept will then also influence their larger, more permanent sites, where the elves wish to keep those remembrances of their more mobile life as they move to more permanent wood or stone buildings.
It will be interesting to see how this progresses from these ideas.
Stay tuned!
Tinkering Tom.