I need a spark of inspiration

[Legacy_Zwerkules]

               For a module I hope to finish some day, I need a dwarven temple. I will make such a temple
and add it to my tileset which I will use for most of the outdoor regions, but I can't decide
on what the temple should look like. Flags with anvils and hammers on them and/or huge
statues of dwarves holding battle axes are getting really old, but seem to be the only reoccuring
element in dwarven architecture. There are high vaulted chambers in JDA's tileset which look
great for dwarfish caverns, but my temple will be in a city which is inhabited by humans and
dwarves (and a few halflings, gnomes and elves).
So I rather need something that looks sufficently dwarfish which can be used in a city instead
of a dark cavern. Dwarves like high ceilings and the like, but I think a cathedral-like temple would
look too christian and quite out of place in a fantasy world.
If you have any ideas what a dwarfish temple should look like and would like to share them with
me, I'd be much obliged (umm, does that sound a bit old-fashioned?).

I just noticed that it is a little paradox that I as a dwarf (Zwerg is the German word for dwarf and I guess you can figure out where the 'kules' is coming from) don't know what a dwarfish temple should look like.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Zwerkules, 09 septembre 2010 - 07:15 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Calvinthesneak]

               I'm not so sure a gotthic type cathedral would look out of place, really depends on textures and blending with other tilseset features.  Dwarves are master stone carvers, so it makes sense they would build from stone as opposed to wood.  I suppose the number of worshippers would determine the amount of gold to build such a place.  Is the temple exclusively dwarvish?



I strongly suggest looking up a few of the dwarven gods, getting a feel for what is important in dwarven culture even if you're using a custom pantheon.  Do they have contact with a dwarven clan hold?  What sorts of building materials are going to be available?  Is the city above ground or below?



I suppose just look at your constraints first, then sort of shape your initial ideas around that.  To me a dwarven temple should probably be stone, be somewhat elaborate and ornate in detail, and probably promote unity.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_TSMDude]

               Inspiration....








               
               

               

                     Modifié par TSMDude, 09 septembre 2010 - 08:35 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Bubba McThudd]

               Awesome images TSM!  What are their sources?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Zwerkules]

               Thanks for the screenshots/pictures TSMDude. They look good, but all of them show the interior of a temple or if it is the exterior it is located in a cavern. So far I haven't found a picture of any kind of dwarven architecture that is not located inside a mountain or cut into the face of a mountain. It seems like in every fantasy world dwarves absolutely HAVE to live inside a mountain or near one and huge statues of dwarves holding a battle axes seem to be a must.

So for dwarves that live among humans and not anywhere near a mountain I have to come up with something new which will still look sufficently dwarfish.

Something like the temple in the third picture might work as an outside temple - maybe with some metal ornaments instead of the glowing crystals.

Actually that picture gives me something to start from and I've got some ideas now. Thank you!



But everybody else, keep posting your ideas about what dwarven architecture might look like!



               
               

               
            

[Legacy_B_Harrison]

               Something I wrote for the surface-dwelling dwarves in my own setting (which are now a question mark, but anyway) included them living in "hilltop towers and squat mountain castles"; perhaps you could apply mountain/underground themes to your surface temple's architecture? Broad, mountainous pillars, cavern-like ceilings, rocky doorways, etc. That might just give the impression that your dwarves are trying to make their temple look like it's underground, but maybe that'd fit.

Warhammer's dwarves are very much the classic under-the-mountain types, but Warhammer Online's concept art features a bunch of very nice dwarven architecture which might be suitable as inspiration for a temple interior.

Interior
Interior
Entrance
Entrance
Exterior
Exterior
Forge
Train Station (!)
               
               

               

                     Modifié par B_Harrison, 09 septembre 2010 - 09:21 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Bard Simpson]

               When I imagine the works of dwarves, I think of solidity, angular and symmetrical geometry, and decoration that is detailed and ornate (yet not gaudy). I certainly agree stone should be the (primary) building material and think fire, gems, and precious metals ought to figure in the decor.

For an urban temple of these mountain-loving folk, perhaps an architectural style reminiscent of mountains would be logical -- pyramids. These structures have appeared around the globe in various societies, so there are plenty of examples of style variation to be found:

Javan temple

Tomb in New Orleans

Nubian tomb

Indian temple

Mexican temple

Mexican pyramid

I happen to favor the proportions shown in the first, fifth, and sixth links. In the tombs in the second and third links, I like the addition of bold, rectangular entrances. The temple in the fourth link demonstrates how ornate the exterior can become.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Zwerkules]

               Thank you, B_Harrison and Bard!

I like the second exterior picture B posted. The torch brackets and the little 'roof' above the entrance look really dwarfish.
The dwarf head reminded me of Odin's head above the entrance of the Walpurgishall.


               
               

               

                     Modifié par Zwerkules, 10 septembre 2010 - 09:09 .