OpenGeofiction
Just thought I’d give a bit of an update on what I’m working on in Dunwic. I’ve been working on improving the city that I’d mapped too quickly and without enough detail. I’m getting close to having completed the entire city centre. I have also been changing names from Ingerish to Myrcian (based on Old English).
Here are some areas I’ve recently completed and am quite proud of:
Kirkcoleg Myrcia
The city’s university, built in the 1930s in a collegiate style by a garden city architect. It’s still not 100% finished but it’s something I keep going back to and adding detail and more buildings.
Forshæig / Vesterburh
I began these neighbourhoods last week when I got back from being in the Netherlands. I got rid of the neighbourhoods that were here and started from scratch building canals and creating an antiques shopping area.
Nórdburh
Another area I’ve recently re-built from scratch. It’s an 18th century street plan inspired by Sir Christopher Wren. It includes the neo-classical cathedral (St Anselm Milkirk) and the cliff railway which leads down to the river.
Hýþ Terminal
This area used to be a fairly clumsy harbour that was one of the first things I mapped. I got rid of all that and re-designed it to be more realistic. I think the retail park, even though it’s quite a simple thing, makes it look particularly realistic.
Feedback always welcome!
Discussion
Comment from Demuth on 26 May 2016 at 14:19
You’ve done a great job, the attention to detail is really impressive! I like all the green spaces you’ve put in, and the layout of the streets. I also like that you’ve really paid attention to putting in all the retail, restaurants, churches and other details that make it look accurate, plus naming all the streets. And love the ferry terminal… you’re a fairly small island nation (like my own country Østermark ;-) so it makes sense to have a significant ferry terminal.
The only possible criticism I have (and you maybe are working on it already) is that the canals seem just a bit narrow. Looking at Amsterdam’s canals, they mostly look to be 30 meters wide or so, with only a very few closer to 10 meters (and some are more like 50).
Other than that, I think you’ve done great work, kudos!
Comment from Myrcia on 26 May 2016 at 15:49
@Demuth - Thank you for the excellent feedback. I love Ostermark and it’s been an inspiration for me, especially in terms of how to lay out tram networks. I went back to look at Leiden on OSM which is the city I was using as a template for Forshæig and Vesterburh and I think you’re right, the canals were to narrow. I’ve widened them now by reducing the distance between the path and the water, that way I don’t have to re-arrange all of the streets. They’re wider now and I think it looks okay.
Comment from Sarepava on 26 May 2016 at 17:34
Some very nice gardens and street plans. It has a realistic English/Irish feel with good street naming and lots of buildings. Schools, supermarkets and newer housing areas should all be candidates for what to build next, also bus stops.
In general I would make the buildings thinner and have more outside walls. A lot of the university buildings would be very dark as there are few surfaces that can have outside windows. Less so the smaller the block is, but shops almost always have back access for deliveries and apartment blocks have courtyards.
I am in two minds about the tram running right into the university. I don’t think most unis would be terribly happy about the building work and having trams rumbling all day past old buildings and drunk or studious students. Imagine -rummmbbbmmmbbb - trying to do your research or lecture in the library - clang-clang! rummmbbbbbbmmmbb - right by the tram line. The sound of wheel flanges on the loop in the quad would be fitting for a horror film too.
Not entirely convinced by the under-contruction metro line either, it doubles a tram line and its stations and doesn’t serve any where not already connected other than the university.
Comment from Yuanls on 26 May 2016 at 20:18
I always loved Myrcia. The amount of detail you put in in most impressive. The detail you put into your mapping has sometimes been a ‘measurement’ for the amount of detail I put in tomy country, Glaster, although I haven’t gotten to quite the level you have yet.
Comment from isleño on 28 May 2016 at 09:35
Really nice! I love the attention to detail.