Field Research / Ely Cathedral Outing #1

Why Ely Cathedral?

I've chosen to go and research Ely cathedral as it is my home town and I know the building well. The building is in very well kept condition and I will be able to collect reference material and experience the environment first hand.

The scale of the building is impressive and to think a build of this size was build over 900 years ago is a true engineering feat. Even now it impresses me and other visitors, seemingly used to tall skyscrapers and large officer buildings but this solid, cold and hard building of faith stands tall and dominate as a symbol of the old days of worship.


Overview of The Cathedral

As with most Norman / Romanesque Churches and Cathedrals, its design is mostly symmetrical and built with sections of the Nave and Aisles being build overtime with the intent to keep the sections of the structures form and appurtenance as identical as possible.

The lady Chapel was build after the main body of the cathedral was completes and is in Gothic style architecture. I will not e creating assets for this section of the building and will be focusing on the aisles, nave, transpet, octagon and then the choir, high alter areas.

My main focus is to create a modular kit to help a environment / level build create a scene fast and have a number of assets that work in conjunction with each other.

Interior Focus

I've chosen to base my modular kit on the interior of a Romanesque / Norman cathedral as this will give me the ability to create an inclosed and confined area which a player will be able to run around and explore the area. This also keeps the asset list to a minimum and allows me to focus on key features and translating the designs into 3D.

Heres a few pictures of my trip, my next post will be more pictures and some observations on the interior designs, some modular breakdown ideas and hopefully some basic prototype assets for testing.

Octagon looking down Nave

Octagon Corner

Blind Arcading in Aisle