Enter any populous Minecraft server and you will no doubt see great examples of medieval architecture - castles, fortresses and stone walls are very popular. For this, one way to stand out from the crowd is to create a modern home. Learning how to imitate the trends of modern architecture within the game takes only a few minutes and allows you to make your designs stand out from the conventional "crushed stone and wood".
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Basics of Modern Architecture
Step 1. Use bold lines and "square" surfaces
This isn't particularly difficult, thanks to Minecraft's block building system. An easy way to mimic this design style is to build walls of different heights. It doesn't matter if one or more of the walls rise above the roof - in modern homes, it's art!
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Real example:
This page shows good examples of the "squares and lines" approach to modern homes. Note that the house itself sits on a simple rectangular plot of land, but that the creative assortment of rectangles scattered throughout its design makes it that much more interesting.
- Many modern homes are designed to create sharp, pleasing areas of contrast. You can do this by integrating many squares, rectangles and straight lines into the exterior. While you may think that this technique gives rise to a "jumble" of shapes, the real effect is of great impact. This is a great way to add visual complexity to your home while still using a rectangular floor plan.
Step 2. Combine white walls with natural materials
It is easy to find wood and stone in Minecraft. Finding white building materials can be more difficult - quartz, sandstone, wool, or lighter varieties of stone are the best choices.
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Real example:
Here you can see an interesting use of contrasting building materials. The clean white surface of the roof "contrasts" with the brick walls and the wood paneled chimney, for a natural and artificial look.
- A common theme of modern architecture is the connection between the orderly world of men and the chaotic beauty of nature. In modern homes there are often many bare white concrete surfaces to give them an "immaculate" look. Combining these surfaces with panels or walls made of rich natural materials such as wood and stone creates a wonderful contrast. More rarely, another neutral color such as gray is used instead of white.
Step 3. Build large glass windows
You will need a lot of sand to do this. Building a beach house gives you access to beautiful views and an abundant source of sand for your windows. Don't forget that you can always build more furnaces to speed up glass production!
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Real example:
The famous Stahl House in the Hollywood Hills displays this style of design. The numerous glass walls offer spectacular views and give the impression of living on a large cloud above Los Angeles - a unique experience.
- Modern architects "love" to use large rectangular glass panels. These panels offer the house dwellers a beautiful view - a must if you have built the house in a spectacular location. They also give the impression of crisp, open spaces and can be used to create contrasting squares or rectangles outside the home.
Step 4. Don't focus on symmetry
You can leave room for imagination regarding the shape of the house. Avoid normal "box and roof" constructions. The house can be uneven, unbalanced or even bizarre - the choice is yours.
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Real example:
This modern home in Mexico demonstrates this trend. The main entrance and corridor are on the left, while the large box structure on the right looms over the rest of the house. This creates a powerful - almost intimidating impression.
- The houses and villas of bygone eras often aim to create grandiose symmetries that generate wonder (see: the Palace of Versailles). In modern homes they try to recreate the same effect with the opposite approach. Many modern homes are deliberately designed in a non-symmetrical way, to challenge the viewer with unbalanced designs.
Step 5. Create neat interiors
The interiors of modern houses are usually designed to give the effect of great outdoors. Use neutral colored floors and natural materials such as wood and stone to create the same contrast used for the exterior of the house. Simple stairs, high ceilings, little furniture and glass openings on verandas and balconies can enhance this effect.
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Real example:
This page shows the neat and stylish interiors of modern homes. The simple but elegant arrangement of the furniture and the large contrasting black glass panels create a space that is open and welcoming at the same time.
- Do you have a wall without many windows? Show your artistic sensibility by exhibiting a series of paintings. You can make one with eight wooden sticks around a block of wool (any color).
Step 6. Add a pool (rectangular or square)
In modern homes, there is often a swimming pool in the rear garden - this may be because it gives architects an extra surface to work on. Don't forget that you will need a bucket and a source of water if you want to fill the pool. You will be able to build a bucket with three iron ingots arranged in a "V" shape in the lower squares of the crafting table.
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Real example:
This stunning villa in Brazil has a simple yet elegant rectangular swimming pool just steps away from a rectangular entertainment area - the perfect example of modern luxury.
- Use a square or rectangular shape for the pool to match the right angles of the house. Build it parallel to the ground.
Part 2 of 2: Ideas for Creative Projects
Step 1. Integrate curves and round surfaces
Minecraft's block building style allows you to easily replicate the "squares and lines" style of modern houses. More abstract living spaces that incorporate curves are more difficult. This guide can help you a lot to build circles and spheres in Minecraft.
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Real example:
This home offers a curvilinear variation of the normal modern "white and square surfaces" design style. The curved roof and cantilevered parts give this quirky home a sleek, sleek look - like a giant iPod.
Step 2. Use bold combinations of geometric shapes
If you want an adventurous design for your home, don't limit yourself to squares and rectangles. Matching particular combinations of shapes and surfaces can give your home a truly unique look. This style is best suited to large houses, as it is difficult to create defined geometric figures with just a few blocks.
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Real example:
This quirky house offers a unique impression. The sharp, angled polygons and triangles used in her design make it resemble a rock emerging from the earth.
Step 3. Consider "impossible" structures
If you really want to push the boundaries of what can be called "home", you can create a truly bizarre architectural project. In Minecraft, you don't have to worry about your house standing, so you have no limits to your creativity. You can even create floating houses by building a bridge over a cliff or canyon, erecting the house above the bridge, and then destroying the blocks that connected it to the mainland!
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Real example:
While this construction was not really "impossible", it no doubt seems so. The many different structures develop at unpredictable angles, against logic.
Step 4. Incorporate well-tended greenery into your home
A well-placed tree or garden can give your modern home a natural look. Plus, it's a great way to mimic the "green" designs that have become popular in modern architecture. If you connect a patch of grass to a patch of land with a strip of consecutive ground cubes, the grass will spread very slowly to the new area. You can use this technique to create unique gardens, such as a rooftop lawn. You can also cut wild flowers to keep them in your garden.
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Real example:
This modern house has a very minimalist garden. Grass and trees are used almost like other surfaces - carefully confined to give strong contrasts, without the ability to grow freely.
- You probably don't want to create a lush, intricate garden - modern architecture has a tendency to use greenery in limited spaces.
Step 5. Consider where to build the house for maximum impact
To create a wonderful home, where to build is as important as what to build. There is no right place to build your modern home, but look for particularly exciting grounds. Here are some ideas: on the beach, on top of a hill or mountain, carved into a cliff face, on a platform in the ocean or deep underground.
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Real example:
Falling Water, the famous modern house built by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is nestled above a small stream and waterfall. The water flows under the house, a beautiful view and a great work of engineering.
Advice
- Realizing these ideas will be much easier in creative mode - you won't risk dying from hostile mobs and other players won't be able to sabotage your work.
- If you want to try building a house in survival mode, you might want to look for a spot away from the player creation point to discourage vandals.
