The wait is finally over. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”is released in many parts of the world today, and science fiction fans will be flocking to theaters across the nation to enjoy the latest installment of this iconic movie franchise.
While this release marks an exciting moment for sci-fi addicts around the world, it is also a film that architects and designers can get excited about, given the beautifully detailed world within which George Lucas’ epic story is told. The strength of any great fictional universe is defined by a highly convincing and visually rich built environment, so it is no surprise that film sets for blockbuster movies like this are subjects of continuing fascination for architects.
To mark the launch of this momentous movie, we have scoured the film’s many trailers and pieced together imagery from throughout the galaxy to bring you a comprehensive architectural guide to “Rogue One.” Enjoy this with your customary bowl of popcorn, and may the architectural force be with you this holiday season …
Jedha
The ancient holy city of Jedha was once a sacred site for those wishing to seek spiritual fulfillment. While the exact filming location for the city itself is not clear, many of the scenes set on this desert moon are known to have been recorded in Jordan. The walled city is densely populated with buildings topped with shimmering golden domes, echoing the architectural language of Jerusalem. The density of the urban landscape here reflects how this ancient city has been built up over the centuries, and its fortifications speak to its turbulent history — the small moon is now occupied by the Galactic Empire, but Movie Pilot reports that “the streets are prone to the occasional rebel scuffle.”
Left: Base at Jedha; right: Wadi Rum valley in Jordan; via Wikipedia
From afar, the entire city appears to have been carved into the rocky landscape outside the city, echoing Brutalist icons and hilltop forts. The location is reminiscent of Jordan’s Wadi Rum valley, which, in the lunar context of “Rogue One,” is fittingly known as “The Valley of the Moon.” Wadi Rum’s otherworldly aesthetics have made it a firm favorite with movie directors, with scenes for “Prometheus” and “The Martian” being shot here, among others.
Eadu
The misty, mountainous landscape of Eadu comes complete with utilitarian architecture reminiscent of many real-world proposals for extraterrestrial bases — akin to Foster + Partners’ 3D-printed lunar station or the geodesic domes of prospective expeditions to Mars. One identifiable filming location for this planet is Myrdalssandur Beach in Iceland, defined by black sand, steep cliffs and a seriously wintry climate. Indeed, Iceland offers the kind of otherworldly terrain that has been harnessed for other fantastical settings — including everybody’s favorite murderous melodrama, “Game of Thrones.”
Left: the landscape of Eadu; right: the black sands of Vík, near Mýrdalssandur; via Vitaly’s photos
It is unclear exactly how big a role this windswept, rainy land plays in “Rogue One,” but it appears that the base pictured in the trailer may well be home to protagonist Jyn Erso’s father Galen, who is — among other things — an expert engineer. In the trailer, he is seen being accosted by the Imperial army, apparently being forced into helping them complete construction of the Death Star. More on that later …
Yavin IV
Having played a crucial role in “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” it is confirmed that the green moon of Yavin IV will again grab the spotlight in “Rogue One” as the location of the Rebels’ secret base. Scenes for Yavin IV were filmed within the luscious rainforests of Tikal, Guatemala, home to the epic temples of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. A scene for Episode IV was filmed from the entranceway of the comb structure of Tikal Temple IV, looking back towards the Tikal Plaza.
Left: The Great Temple, home to the Rebel Alliance’s hidden base, via Wookieepedia; right: Tikal Temple II, Guatemala, via Wikipedia
In the Star Wars universe, these majestic stone pyramids are known as Massassi Temples, built by an ancient warrior race that was enslaved by the Sith some 5,000 years before the events of “Rogue One” take place. The real age of Tikal’s temples is quite young by comparison — the city’s principal structures were built between 1,200 and 1,300 years ago. Nevertheless, these intricately detailed ruins stand as some of the finest examples of Mayan architecture in the whole of Central America.
Scarif
If the tropical planet of Scarif appears like a dream destination for your next vacation, you may want to think again — this luscious paradise is home to some seriously sinister activities. It is home to the base chosen by the Empire to construct one of the most foreboding pieces of airborne architecture in movie history: the Death Star. Scarif’s real-world filming location is Laamu Atoll in the Maldives, an idyllic location characterized by palm trees, sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and incredibly luxurious resorts.
Left: Scarif in the midst of battle; right: the rather more peaceful architecture of the real-world Maldives; via Luxuria Vacations
For “Rogue One,” though, incongruous industrial architecture has been introduced, and its scale is startling. Set against the Maldives’ low-lying terrain, the looming tower of steel pictured in the trailer — some form of military installation home to all manner of aircraft, land vehicles and equipment — possesses an intimidating presence, symbolizing the ambitions of the Empire as it attempts to build a weapon to solidify its power indefinitely.
The Death Star
The most crucial prop of “Rogue One” is in fact a set of architectural blueprints. The Rebel Alliance must find a way to steal the design details for the Empire’s Orbital Battle Station — otherwise known as the infamous Death Star — in order to identify a weakness in Darth Vader’s plans and ultimately save the galaxy from terror and destruction on an unfathomable scale. It could be argued that the Death Star constitutes a gargantuan example of engineering rather than architecture, but because the spherical structure is permanently inhabited, we’re including it in this guide to “Rogue One”’s built environment. It has emerged that some Death Star scenes may have been filmed in London’s Underground — Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Line station, to be precise.
Left: Jyn Erso runs through the corridors of what could well be the Death Star; right: the calmer interior of Canary Wharf station on the Jubilee Line; via Star Wars Places.
The Death Star is technically a mixed-use development — The Empire’s minions live and work within the “city sprawls” coating the surface of the huge mobile structure, while the Galactic Emperor himself occupies the heavily protected throne room while on board. The primary programmatic element of the Death Star, though, is the succinctly named “Concave Dish Composite Beam Superlaser” — engineered to fire the Empire’s ultimate weapon, a planet-destroying laser. Form has never followed function in quite such a terrifying way …
Screenshots from Star Wars official trailers unless otherwise stated