ON ARCHITECTURE

[Johann 2498]

 

On Contemporary Haelun’orian Architecture

By Muriel Uradir

An academic paper dedicated to Evelon Telperion

Maehr’sae Hiylun’ehya

 

Preface

 

The architecture of the Mali’aheral of Haelun’or is one that boasts a striking distinction to those of the lessers, with recurring themes being the abundant use of quartz masonry and monochrome palette; these principal features in turn procuring a sense of unmistakably brilliant vibrancy within the structures of the Silver City. With an extensive history dating back to the days of Old Malinor, Mali’aheral architecture has undergone substantial changes across the ages. However, this is beyond the scope of this paper, which merely aims to discuss the sui generis qualities of Haelun’orian architecture in the land of Arcas.

 

Observations

 

Upon one’s first sight of Haelun’or, one may first be astounded by the imposing Silver walls that dominate the plateau upon which they stand, like wary sentinels looming over the Silver Forest that lays below, its lofty turrets roofed in a similar hue of quartz, radiating a similarly imposing effect. The use of quartz in High Elven masonry is one that is prevalent in practice, of which is generally complimented with elaborate and intricate patterns chiseled and embellished on its surface. Asides from its aesthetic appeal, the extensive use of the quartz, and thus the colour white represents the purity that Haelun’or champions as a city of the Mali’thill, projecting its purpose as a silver bastion that upholds this ideal. 

 

 

For the case of the city walls, a visible trend would be the reiterating protrusions along its battlements and the presence of diminutive roofing for each respective section, adorned with intricate stonework that juxtapose the plainness in design of the turret adjacent. In case any foolish lesser or ‘ata wonders why a mesh of quartz and other materials are used for the silver walls, it is simply for aesthetic appeal, for the Mali’thill are not only curators of purity but also patrons of the arts.

 

If beauty were to be defined as a harmony between all the constituents of a structure, in such a way that nothing else needs to be altered or added, the Silver Citadel would be exemplary in conveying this, for it is the arguable pinnacle of High Elven architecture. Cruciform in structure, the citadel is one of the only buildings in Haelun’or to be adorned with a dome, a circular construct that is indicative of the decorum and discipline the High Elves follow in architecture. If one were to observe decorum in architecture, one would do so in the form of constructing something that is the most simple, uniform and refined, thus making the dome the most suitable for displaying such decorum. This is also the reason why only the places of high esteem in Haelun’or - the Citadel, the Eternal Library and the Eternal College -  fashion the geometric perfection of domes, for it is only fitting for a place of its kind to receive such distinction. For the promotion of proper ventilation, the only other apertures asides from the entrance in the Citadel are high up, while the entrance itself is a large, impressive arch that serves a similar purpose, in addition to its obvious extravagance. A similar grandiloquence can be seen in the masonry of the citadel, one that boasts only three principal materials - concrete, quartz and granite - all fashioned into a multitudinous mixture of variants that remarkably blend together to evoke some manner of unitary beauty. 

 

           

 

Adherence to symmetry is also an integral feature of High Elven architecture, a vital constituent of decorum responsible for the orderliness of its structures, of which arises from proportion, an elusive aesthetic that may not first be visible to the eye of the beholder, but always influences the way in which it perceives the general appeal to itself. A prime example of the importance of symmetry can be found in the structure of the Eternal Library and the Citadel, where the emphasis towards their central domes, the center of attention, one may call it, necessitate the application of symmetry to compliment its cruciform structure. Proportionality is a ubiquitous aspect of High Elven architecture, with in fact, all edifices exhibiting some form of proportionality in its parts, some even having an indication of the Golden Ratio, as shown by the illustrations below.

 

 

  
 

Such is the perfection of High Elven architecture.

 

Another feature of High Elven architecture would be the similarities in the style of facades displayed by buildings across Haelun’or, all of which possess the telling characteristics of Haelunorian structures. A common denominator amongst all facades would be that they are typically symmetrical around their vertical axis and surmounted by a pediment of some kind. These pediments in turn are embellished with cornices, generally in the form of stairs, however lacking entablatures that provide support, for such is compensated by pilasters embedded in the facade. In residential areas, these decorations are usually only seen in manors of affluent Talonni, with facades seen in the housing of ordinary citizens comprising of little more than overhangs and minor cornices; as one may expect, the interior decoration of each housing widely varies depending on the preferences of its occupants.

 

Following innumerable socio-political and cultural shifts across history, contemporary Mali’aheral architecture has vastly deviated from that of its predecessors, especially in the way in which spires have become a more secondary component of housing and buildings. As final contemplation, I invite the reader to make a trivial comparison between the the High Elven capital of Vailor, Lin’Sulan and the current capital, Lareh’thilln, with each city illustrated below respectively. If one has developed a more comprehensive understanding of Haelunorian architecture from reading this paper, then they may discern many differences in masonry, stylism, structure and techniques prevalent in Vailor, those merely reminiscent of a bygone era.