I did a little digging on the Imperial Library before starting a quick concept for Summerset Isles architecture. Unfortunately, all I found was a single line mentioning that Cloudrest is constructed in a peculiar fashion, with vine-like buildings having been built on top of ancient structures - suggesting that standard Altmer buildings are not vine like. I also read that ruins created from dried coral are scattered across the land - indicating that a typical Summerset Isles home is not built amidst ancient coral formations. So although I found a tiny bit of information on what Altmer architecture doesn't look like, I found nothing regarding what it does look like.

Hopefully someone around here knows more than that (assuming the lore exists), and if so, would you mind taking a look at http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc212/darkstorne/SummersetArchitecture-2.jpg and suggesting whether it could be lore-friendly as an Altmer building found on the Isles?

Many thanks ^_^

PS: Apologies for the picture being a little blurry and saturated... i'm having some minor problems with saving in jpeg and bmp file formats with Photoshop...

Well there's http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Artaeum, saying that the architecture appears to be as natural as it's surroundings, and there's the picture of the http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Arena:Crystal_Tower from Arena, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:AR-Race-High_Elf_Male.jpg picture of some pillars from Arena, and http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File%3a%44f.Img.RacePortraitBackground.HighElf.gif picture with a building in the background from Daggerfall.

Sorry for posting if it's unwanted, I'm very weak in the topic of Lore, but based on what xXAntibodyXx posted that actually looks VERY close to the architecture!

Very, very lucky guesstimation about what it would be like! And I like your style of drawing.

Hasn't it been said that much of Imperial high culture was borrowed heavily from Altmer culture? We can assume going by that, in combination with the pictures above, that Summerset buildings are very similar to some of those in Cyrodill, particularly those of the stone variety.

Damn that was a fast reply! Thanks for the links!

Ok, so each link shows a completely different style... I guess Beth are still pretty clueless about this place right now. The Psijic architecture definitely sounds interesting, but since the Psijics broke away from the Altmer at a time of modernisation (I think this was the general gist?) their structures would resemble an older style of architecture compared to the modern day Altmer perhaps?

The picture from Arena shows pillars that I would expect to find in Hammerfell or Elsweyr, with that Persian or Arabic style. Conversely, the picture from Daggerfall looks like a stereotypical English farmhouse. I suppose all these styles could be accurate though, and represent different areas and cultures of the Isles. The farmhouse could be from an area with Imperial influence, while the Arena picture could well have come from a more remote and secluded side of the Isles. The Crystal Tower... looks nothing like I had imagined. The name conjured thoughts of a magically bound tower literally constructed of giant gleaming crystals, brimming with waves of energy. Perhaps that's too high-fantasy for Tamriel.

My inspiration was based on the hierachy present in Altmer culture, where artists are considered second only to the wisest of Altmer. With art held in such high esteem, I imagined elegant buildings being sought after as a sign of status, rather than farmhouses and arabic themes.

Thoughts?

We can't fully go by Arena or Daggerfall of course...much of the older lore was retconned or re imagined for Morrowind upward. It's impossible to imagine which part the devs have decided to keep/discard until we actually see the Isles represented in a new game. I think the idea that Imperial culture was influenced by Altmer culture is going to be a part of it. If it's true that artists are as valued as the wisest of the Altmer, we can imagine perhaps the the buildings in the bigger cities or the mansions of the wealthy are much more stylistic, whereas perhaps simple farm houses and town houses would be very similar to Imperial architecture.

Thanks :hugs:


That's some sound logic. I'll be sure to keep this in mind when I work on some more ideas over the weekend. I can imagine Imperial-like structures being added to by later owners as well, adding an artistic flair to an otherwise simple house. An open-air conservatory, for example, would fit this bill and also provide an Altmer scholar with a relaxing location for study.

Another thought - Ayleid ruins were constructed by the Aldmer, correct? Direct ancestors of the Altmer? Any chance Altmer architecture would bear a resemblance (at any level) to these ruins? Or am I getting my facts messed up? :blink:

The Altmer are descended from the Aldmer, not the other way around. Aldmer was a blanket term for the first Elven culture to arrive from Aldmeris. All other Elven groups eventually split off from them. The Altmer are presumably the closest to the original culture. The Ayleids developed a bit of a tyrannical, Daedra worship culture that included enslaving humans. I would imagine that yes, you could get a rough idea of what Aldmer or Altmer tombs look like by examining those used by the Ayleids, but it wouldn't be exact. There's a cultural disconnect there. It would be something like...I dunno what's a good real world example? Maybe it's like trying to get an idea of what Greek architecture is like by examining later Roman or Byzantine architecture. You're examining a design that was based on an earlier design. You also have to consider the cultural differences - ideological and geographical - that would inform the Ayleid architecture. I've been told before that what we are seeing aren't full Ayleid cities but the underground catacombs that were left over. The stones of the cities were presumably torn down to be re used by Imperials in their towns and cities. So we don't really see much Ayleid above ground structure except those surrounding the tombs, and of course White Gold Tower. So keep that in mind.

the summursets are supposed to be crazy. like solidified sunlight crazy. the best actual description we have comes from the PGE1:

so, i don't quite think your building fits that bill.

i've always imagined the architecture as being primarily vertical, perhaps elevated from the ground level somehow (pillars, foundations, energy, light, space). i see it as being made of unidentifiable material, with properties that confuse and baffle the human eye. the laws of physics can be safely disregarded. i've been working for ever on a building based on the structure of a snowflake.

[edit] it looks nothing like the Rivendell or Loth Lorien, anyone who suggests either will be face the consequences.

Yeah that would be awesome. Kinda like Cyrodill being endless jungle and the Imperial City being a kick ass place divided down the middle by water and including hedges which contain the personalities of dead Emperors awesome.

cyrodiil not living up to our expectations is not an excuse to start slacking off in terms of design.

Stenciled beams thrust outward in every direction; beams the width of an angler's net fibers. The bulging, tower cities would appear, to unfold and fly upon command, as the panes of glass are so constructed, like great dragonflies' wings. Its true the surrounding islet Altmer, those who know the sea best, construct cities within the organic tissue of great sea creatures. Wizards will hunt and retrofit these behemoths with skeletal and nerve structures their metalurgers pounded to the equation songs of Magnus. This, for the durability and precision needed to withstand the Abecean depths, and so the sorcerers would have abundant magic.

Yeah that's what I thought. I said ancestors, not descendants

That is really interesting though, that the Ayleid ruins left behind are purely the underground sections such as tombs. I never even stopped to think that they may once have been flourishing ground-level cities. I love the Ayleid archways, so I might borrow that design base, if nothing else.


I'm so glad you found something that suggests their architecture revolves around towers and pillars. I had that vision in mind when I started drawing, hence painting a tower onto a small building in my concept.

Glass and insect wings eh? Impossibly high towers? Sounds as though the materials used in construction (maybe crystals as well as glass) have a habit of recreating primary school science lessons. The sun's light becomes defracted as it shines through the towers, casting a rainbow of colours upon the streets below. The streets are designed as straight, yet the viewer also refers to the city as swirling when he gazes at the towers. Sounds like it might be a similar design to the Imperial City. Those streets are all straight, leading to White Gold Tower, or circling around it (assuming Oblivion still represented the IC's basic structure), and the city is designed in a circular manner. A spiral design would be an interesting tweak to a typical city structure for this race.

But you're right, in that city my building would be way off target!


Indeed.

If I remember correctly, that is referring specifically to Alinor, condsidered "the most beautiful city in the world". His concept is just an average Altmer building, probably not found in Alinor. So yes, i did do some research on Summerset, trying to find anything I could.

What's all this about Organic Altmer cities and Octopus armor? Are there any sources I can read on this?

Ok, so the first two lines seem to be referring to the same city as Lady Nerevar's post, which is possibly Alinor, correct?

The rest of this quote, starting with 'It's true the surrounding islet Altmer': Wow. That sounds like madness squared. Ok so some of the powerful sorcerors residing on the outlying isles of Summerset construct their cities inside giant sea creatures.
"...hunt and retrofit these behemoths with skeletal and nerve structures..." Retrofit: to furnish with new or modified parts or equipment. So these city-based sea creatures are still alive? No sense in providing a new nerve structure if they're dead. So presumably these 'cities' are also moving cities, or at least have the potential to move. Hence the need to 'withstand the Abecean depths'.

Yeah, madness. Awesome, but madness. How the hell do you create a mod for a giant moving, diving sea beast with a city in his belly? :blink:
Thank god i'm just the artist

Well, the idea is, the wizard will plug into the animal like Sotha Sil was pluged into his "Mainframe", and the skeletal structure is for support of the city. Its not a fleshed out concept yet, just some things I've been putting together. The egos of the altmer wizards are as inflated as captain Nemo's, so how appropriate they would build each his own Nautilus.

What's all this about Organic Altmer cities and Octopus armor? Are there any sources I can read on this?
http://www.imperial-library.info/races/mw_highelf.gif.
Look how proudly he wears the claw on his chest, clearly he(?) hunted the monster himself. The Dunmer pride themselves on their dead armor. Well, the Altmer pride themselves on the homes they keep alive.

Intriguing. I never knew that the Altmer and Dunmer were alike in those ways.

quite intriguing, jack. there seems to be a decided element of randomness however, while i view the altmer as much more structured and precise. why hunt when you can grow them on the spot? colonies of self-replicating [name lost] guided to divide by magic and pure will, formed to the exact specifications of its master. a hundred thousand years of evolution in service to their keepers has made these creatures into the perfect magical wetware.

re: alinor. alinor is the prime example of the summursets. its unrealistic to believe that a city of glass, light, and live insects can stand side-by-side with one of brick and mortar. the isles are supposed to be magical and unbelievable, as an artist i would stay away from anything that reminds us of the real world.

True, why not farm the life? I'd like to believe the tradition of the angler is beloved in the isles, based on the picture. The Dunmer could have farmed their beetles and just killed them, instead of hunting them for their chitin armor. Its about pride, I suppose.

The Altmer pride arises solely from their dominance. as a race they believe themselves to be superior to all else. As individuals, they believe themselves to be superior to their brethren. They assert this dominance by micromanaging their environment. A hunt shows the inability of the hunter to control their pray, and lack of control is weakness.

(maybe its time to split off this discussion, its becoming something of a circle jerk)

Never knew that the Altmer were such an Interesting race. I always thought they were some of the more drab ones.