Architecture by Culture in My Homebrew Setting

When you describe the setting of your game, the appearance of the world is an important element of what you need to share. In particular, the appearances of buildings matters, as it characterizes both the gameworld and the cultural customs of the races in it. It stands to reason that different cultures would have different architectural styles as they do in real life, so what does each race's architecture look like? Answering this question will allow you to portray a more colorful world as well as helping you to define what each culture is like. Read on for a full description of each race's architecture. 

Before we get into the individual races' architecture, let's address the concept at large. What are we talking about when we address architecture? Building styles, mostly: what materials are used to build things, what shapes and decorations they include, what practical applications these building styles serve. These three ideas will guide what follows. It's worth noting that your worldbuilding has considerable effects on architecture. Plentiful building supplies might be easy or difficult to come by in your world. If there is a history of cultural imperialism, one race's style might overshadow another's. The relative wealth of your world determines the average size and structure of people's homes. In my world, none of these details are especially game-changing. Building supplies are relatively easy but not necessarily inexpensive, so that remains average. Although Daltoners in my world have embraced imperialism, they lack the cultural power to determine anyone else's cultural practices. And my world is relatively low-wealth, so most homes are relatively small unless the person in question is above the lower classes. But just because my world doesn't need special attention in these areas doesn't mean yours won't. Be aware of details like these before you adopt architectural styles. 

Now let's tackle the races' architectural styles one by one. I'll be answering the questions I set out above (materials, shapes, and practical applications) for each race as well as providing sample floorplans for each one. Keep in mind these descriptions where your players make their way through towns; these varying styles can present the image of a diverse community which is also visually interesting. 

Daltoners

The more villainous of my two lines of humans, the Daltoners are strict and forbidding about wasting anything. Born of a resourceless rock in the sea to the East, the Daltoners have always made the very most out of what they have. To that end, their buildings are utilitarian and devoid of decorative features. What that means in practice is that their buildings are square and vary only by size. Other races in Evanoch, when encountering the mercenary way that Daltoners built new settlements, have noted the usefulness of the square building, and now most structures that are built in Evanoch are simply square buildings. Daltoners made their first lasting dwellings of brick, but in Evanoch, they take advantage of whatever materials they can. When given options, Daltoners prefer stone bricks. 

The shape of the Daltoner home is unremarkable except for the fact that it creates the most possible floor space for the least amount of resources. Decoration of Daltoner homes is minimalist; showing uniqueness in Daltoner culture is frowned upon. Common decorations include shrines to the Daltoner Pelor, plaques of the government of Dalton, and portraits of important historical figures. The layout of the house being so utilitarian means that many Daltoners do not view their homes with pride in the same way that other races do. 

Practically speaking, the Daltoner home is focused on use. The entryway in Daltoner homes functions both as a reception area and a public space. More personal relations are allowed into the living room, which also serves as a place for rest. The kitchen is allowed to only the resident or their servants, and private quarters are both highly private and devoid of personal touches. The home, for Daltoners, is a fact of life, and nothing to be considered beyond that. 

The only area of architecture that Daltoners expend real energy is in that of their cathedrals. Their houses of worship to Pelor are marvels of both engineering and aesthetics. The New Dalton Church of Pelor has over 200 pounds of gold used in a carving of Pelor atop the cathedral, rising to a height of 180 feet. 

Faninites

The more peaceful of my two lines of humans, the Faninites are imagined as Viking-like yet peaceful. In order to honor that inspiration, I decided that Faninites traditionally reside in longhouses like the Vikings of our world. But importantly, longhouses are also easy to build and suited for a simple set of needs, and those are great selling points. The native forests of Fanin, the island far to the North, yield enormous firs and spruces as well as redwoods, so Faninite homes are often made of cross-sections of gigantic trees rather than assembled from a collection of smaller ones. Where that is impossible, Faninites will create dense, thickly-walled longhouses out of bundles of trees. 

The shape of a Faninite home is relatively unassuming. It is longer in one direction than another, making use of long cuts of wood for the longer side. Its roof slopes down from the top, giving the interior a triangular shape. The kitchen typically exists in the center of the house, so that smoke can be funneled out of the highest point in the roof. The living room is a casual space, as is the sleeping area. Entire Faninite families commonly share a room, and few Faninites think poorly of entering another Faninite family's private area. Faninites decorate their homes with handicrafts, especially those made by loved ones. Furs and flowers are also prized decorative measures. 

Practically speaking, the simple design of the Faninite home serves only the bare necessities: a place for food and shelter. Because of that, Faninites spend little time at home and more time out in nature, with their community, or working to improve oneself. The home becomes a place where the family regroups and rests at the end of a day rather than a place which is lived in. Since the longhouse is relatively easy to build, the marriage of Faninites is usually marked by the presentation of a new longhouse to start a family in, built by the family of the married couple. 

The largest concentration of Faninites in Evanoch is in the city of Finiel, near the elven capital. In Finiel, there are hundreds of longhouses in stretching neighborhoods, and the residents have taken to decorating them in elaborate scenes, many with taxidermied animals and dolls made of grasses and reeds. The community there holds it as a friendly competition. 

Dwarves

Dwarven architecture is characterized by a mixture of practicality and ostentatiousness. The basis of a dwarven building is in segmentation: the building itself is structured in a way that naturally creates distinct sections of a building for different uses. This reflects the dwarven value of intentionality, having a meaningful purpose for each action taken. Dwarves classically build structures of stone, and only the most hardscrabble dwarf in the least hospitable of settings would build a structure of wood. Stone varieties signify class in dwarven construction: plentiful limestone is used for simple structures, middle class dwarves use granite, and the wealthiest dwarves build their homes of marble. 

The shape of a classic dwarven home exemplifies the segmented construction prized in dwarven culture. It appears from above as a common rectangle with a square removed from one edge. The result is that a dwarven home has a small entryway which lead to two separate halves of the home. One side is meant to be private--personal quarters and washroom--and the other is intended as a public space (kitchen and living area). Decorative measures in dwarven architecture range from simple adornments and curved lines to break up the straight edges up to intricate gargoyles that stand watch over the home. 

Practically speaking, dwarven homes lead the resident to a highly regimented life. The divide between personal and public spheres in the home means that dwarves regard their homes as places of balancing acts, trying to maintain both in the small space that is a dwarven home. It is worth noting that dwarven construction style sacrifices potential space and uses more stone to build in the distinct shape of dwarven homes, but this sacrifice is considered worthwhile, as it allows for the segmented lifestyle dwarves tend toward. 

Dwarves in the capital of Underhar created their buildings by carving them directly into a mountain. The capital itself is mostly underground, and the city is always growing further into the mountain as the city's expert masons create new areas to live out of nothing but solid rock. 

Elves 

Elven architecture is governed by aesthetics moreso than any other race. Elven homes are designed to be unique, and therefore are difficult to generalize about; uniqueness reflects well on the social standing of the homeowner. Elves prize buildings of wood more than stone; the most prestigious elven homes exist as alterations to living trees, but lumber is an acceptable alternative for the less wealthy. Cheap homes are built of softer woods like pine, middle class homes are constructed from birch, and the finest elven homes are made of oak. 

The shape of an elven home is simple: it is a longhouse-like design with a right-angle side jutting out from the end. The elven custom for the wealthy is to build houses that are circular, but in the last century, the swelling of the lower classes has meant that elven homes have started to mimic Faninite homes in their longhouse design, but with the variation of the extended end. Decorative measures in elven homes recall nature; fresh flowers often sit in visible spaces, and wood carvings of natural scenes and animals are considered the height of home decorating. The exteriors of homes are nearly always complete with gardens (often in the space in front of the entrance) and wooden carvings. 

Speaking practically, the elven home allows for flexibility of purpose. Like the dwarves, there is a distinct area for private life, though this is less demanded in elven culture. But the most public space in an elven home is the extended section, called in elven the welparin, or community home. Elves take turns hosting the other elves in their communities in these spaces, which have special connotations as religious spaces as well. Thus, this part of the home is dedicated to connection with the gods and the rest of the community. 

The elven capital of Mishara is home to the largest tree known to humanity, and into its branches and trunk have been carefully cut homes. Those who live in this living tree must routinely cut new growth of the tree back or risk being squeezed out of their homes. 

Half-Elves

Half-elves are the offspring of elves and the human lineage known as Faninites. Likewise, their cultural customs, including architecture, are an amalgam of those races' customs. And yet half-elves are also the most highly regarded artists and freethinkers in the land, and so there is a great variation among half-elf homes. Both elves and Faninites use lumber to build their homes most commonly, and the hierarchy of wood types remains the same: pine at the bottom, then birch, then oak. Because Faninites prize the wood of the keskit tree, some halfling homes are built with its wood in decorative uses. 

Half-elven homes can vary in shape, as many are surprising designs. But the average half-elven home is an extended longhouse which also incorporates the elven tradition of a communal gathering space or welparin. This design places welparin at the center of the house, where in elven tradition it is an asymmetrical addition to the house. This tradition, developed by the half-elves, has caught on with modern elves, and this design of house has become popular outside of the half-elven community. Decorations in half-elven homes reflect the fine arts: paintings, sculpture, anything that captures beauty through creativity. 

Practically speaking, the half-elven home creates a living experience that reinforce the idea of an interconnected system that functions as one via the connection in the home between common life, communal life, and private life. Additionally, the longhouse shape is relatively easy to build, and so half-elves have little trouble beginning again somewhere new, which is helpful because a half-elven cultural custom encourages them to try their hands at as many different things as possible in life. 

The most intricate half-elven homes incorporate nature in their designs. One half-elven estate on Lake Playbor is shaped as a giant octagon, with a dizzying array of hallways and a greenhouse that can feed the entire estate. This home also has a system of mirrors installed so that even the faintest sunlight can completely illuminate the house. 

Halflings

Halfling architecture stems from roots of burrowing; early halfling settlements dug mostly underground structures. But the difficulty of conducting massive social interaction and business when buildings were essentially hidden from view and meeting with other races introduced halflings to the advantages of above-ground buildings. Today, many buildings in the halfling capital of Curagon remain underground, and some halflings that strike out on their own build burrows rather than houses. When halflings construct buildings, as they largely do today, they build low-to-the-ground structures that are at least partially dug out. Because the lumber used is in such small pieces, halflings can opt for nontraditional wood for their buildings; hickory, ash, and cherry (ascending quality) each find their uses in halfling homes. 

When a halfling builds a traditional home, they first build a small house--almost a shack, really--and decorate it as a simple entry hall. Then they get to work burrowing. They create a staircase down until they can leave several feet of supported earth above them. Most halfling homes have only about 3 or 4 feet from floor to ceiling, though some halflings have constructed their homes to allow for larger humanoids as well. The dug-out home is usually four or five times the size of the entry hall. Decorations in halfling homes usually consist of collections of everyday items that the resident finds eyecatching. A sample home might have an end table with a porcelain teapot, a fern, a wooden tankard, and a quill carefully arranged. 

Practically speaking, halflings divide their homes into three rooms. There is a common space for entertaining guests (and which often serves as a study for the resident), a large kitchen area (halflings devote more space to kitchens than any other race), and a private quarters. Only the common space and the entryway should ever be seen by guests. Halflings generally take more pride in the underground portion of the home than the entryway, but in recent generations, halflings have taken to building more complete above-ground homes and more limited underground areas. In these homes, the underground area is considered incredibly private. 

In the halfling capital of Curagon, there are a great many burrows--so many, in fact, that entire stretches of the city have only hatches above ground. Some of the burrows in the city are larger than even the finest house, as they stretch for several stories down into the earth. Construction above these burrows is strictly forbidden, as previous construction attempts proved disastrous. 

Gnomes

Gnomish architecture has changed drastically over the years. Early gnomish buildings were domes, which later evolved into geometric designs, predominantly the icosahedron. However, for the last thousand or so years, gnomish buildings have become hexagonal for maximum use of space. Gnomes build their homes of a combination of wood and stone: the most common gnomish houses have a foot-tall foundation of stonework (mostly large stones set in mortar) with the framework and surfaces made of lumber (maple is prized for its flexibility). 

The gnomish design of a hexagon easily allows for up to six rooms. Many gnomish houses make the living room, study, or private quarters larger at the expensive of an entryway or laboratory, but designs will vary by gnome. The high degree of order conferred by this design is a reflection of the lawful nature of gnomes and their society. Just as gnomish society is mathematically considered, so are all elements of life given their proper place. Gnomes frequently entertain visitors and consider an impressive home (and especially study) to be a mark of social honor and distinction. Decorations in a gnomish home are far-ranging; gnomes try to express themselves through their homes in this way, so it is not uncommon to see a collection of art, personal trophies, religious items, inventions (successful and otherwise), and knickknacks. The more unique these decorations, the more enviable. 

Practically speaking, these homes are not only easy to divide spatially; they also can be closely fitted together. This means that gnomish settlements are dense in construction and give rise to close interactions with neighbors. Community is a highly prized value in gnomish culture, so this proximity is not unwanted. Outside of gnomish communities, gnomes construct hexagonal buildings as a way to honor their gnomish heritage. Gnomes are more likely to build homes large enough to be visited by larger humanoids, but the majority of gnomish homes are small enough only for them (mainly to preserve resources). 

In the gnomish capital of Vestry, thousands of these hexagonal buildings are interlocked like honeycombs for miles. This was an effort of reform during a time of gnomish progress, when buildings were altered to all be uniform and space-efficient. Since that time, hundreds of years ago, all of the capital is a sea of hexagonal houses and businesses. 

Orcs 

The orcish homeland is a small island called Grob. The tribes on this island always meant to keep space from one another, and this premium on real estate meant that tribes grew up, not out. The trademark orcish buildings always have at least two stories. There is little stone on Grob, and so a great effort has been made by orcish populations to harvest lumber from the nearby Shorgon Forest on the mainland. The Shorgon Forest is mostly home to alder, spruce, and cypress, so most of their buildings are constructed from them. In the rest of Evanoch, orcs build with what they can find, preferring oak and ash when their homeland's lumber is unavailable. 

These multi-story houses, expanded by floors when extra rooms are needed, are always built with the possibility of expansion. To that end, the average orcish home in an orcish settlement seems to have scaffolding going above the building's roof; this is the resident looking to grow their home. The interior of orcish homes relies on the balance of four spaces. The living room is a place for family to be together and to entertain guests. The kitchen, nearly as large as the halflings', serves also as dining room and often as a space for curing meats. Upstairs, the trophy room/shrine known as a gorshen can be found. This space is a personal altar for religious worship, and it is traditionally decorated with markers of past victories, especially pelts and treasures. Private quarters are especially guarded, and it is considered a grave offense to enter the private areas of an orc's home. Decoration in orcish homes is especially important in the gorshen, but orcs try to adorn their homes at large with stirring decorations, like paintings of battles, fiercely taxidermied animals, and strange lighting effects. 

Practically speaking, there has been an unintended side effect of the multi-story homes of orcs. At the beginning of time, orcs linked their private and public lives often; it was a powerful statement for an orc to keep everything out of the public eye. But since orcs began building homes so long ago, their thinking about these realms has changed. Downstairs in their homes are private spaces, and one must physically ascend to reach the more private areas. In modern orcish culture, personal privacy is paramount to survival. 

In the orcish homeland of Grob, the settlements reach considerable heights. The most powerful chieftain in the land resides in a house which climbs 28 stories into the air, employing a network of support beams anchored on the ground and on nearby buildings. It is possible to spot an orcish settlement from far away due to its stacked housing. 

That's all for now. Coming soon: a list of custom classes, how to create personalized challenges for your players, and how to help beginners with learning magic. Until next time, happy gaming!

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