Architecture is a physical manifestation of people, culture, tradition, and politics. Few products of a culture have the same impact as viewing a foreign city for the first time, or stepping into a temple and marveling at the fusion of art and engineering. A culture’s buildings convey a great deal about the people who built them. At a glance the viewer gains insight to a culture’s aesthetic sense and whether they give more importance to appearance or function. Looking beyond the styles, a viewer can also see which materials are available and which are less common. Studying the arrangement of buildings, marketplaces, and infrastructure gives a sense of the community’s organization and which elements are most important. A look at a city’s walls or towers gives insight into a people’s military abilities and needs.

Styles

The Dwürden Mien

Old Empire architects built primarily upon rectangular plans until the End of the Second Acèntyri-Dekàli War. Following the Empire’s fall, planners began adopting the Dwürden model of rounded towers and high archways. This change is believed to have been a symbol of resistance that like their Dwürden allies, the Dekàlans would forever stand against the tyranny of the Eylfāe. The technical knowledge existed among the Yrūn planners long before this time, but tradition called for an older, rectangular style.