5 Concrete Wonders – Real Theme

31st July 2016

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I have been planning this Real Theme for quite a few years but never got around to actually posting it.

Unlike other Real Theme post that focus on one location, this one is more about the material and its possibilities.

I love concrete, no really. Anything built with concrete, especially large unusual structures fascinate me.

With that in mind, I present to you a variety of buildings and structures for inspiration when building maps.

Haukilahti Water Tower

It seems that Finland has some pretty cool water towers and this is just one I had found years ago. There’s a few links below the screenshots that you may find interesting.

Of course, during the Combine occupation, the oceans have been drained, so maybe these are empty.

It’s unclear to me whether the Combine want fresh or sea water. Either way, getting inside one would be fun.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Cidade das Artes in Rio de Janeiro

As the new home of the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (Brazilian Symphony Orchestra) and a main center for music, the Cidade das Artes is the largest modern concert hall in South America, with 1,780 seats.
I can just imagine seeing this in the middle of a forest clearing. perhaps with partial concrete or maybe with half concrete, half Combine metal.

It almost has an organic feel about it, like a beetle or other insect, with a carapaces or even scales.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Wissol Rest Stop in Gori, Georgia

In 2009, the head of the Roads Department of Georgia commissioned J. MAYER H. to design a system of 20 rest stops for the new highway, a thoroughfare that will run through Georgia and serve as a connection between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkey.

What most attracts me about these buildings is the fact that they go beyond simple function. The style is an expression of ability rather than need.

I would like to see more mappers create something that is not just functional but also doesn’t look like it should exist. We don’t have the same limitation in video games as we do in real life and I would like to see that taken advantage of more. I certainly plan to try to create something like this at some point in the future..

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Science Hills museum in Komatsu, Japan

At first, this may look more like a multiplayer environment, but this could easily be a single player location, where the player has to explore etc.

The undulating areas could easily hide headcrabs or a crouching Combine soldiers.

I also like the combination of concrete and grass, such a juxtaposition of surfaces.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran (Church of Iceland) parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 73 metres (244 ft), it is the largest church in Iceland and the sixth tallest architectural structure in Iceland. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614 to 1674), author of the Passion Hymns.

Clearly it has a touch of Citadel about it and I have long felt that some sort of place of worship and Combine style would be perfect. The Combine build vertically and the idea of a group of people worshipping the Combine is not too far fetched.

I haven’t included any images from inside but I am sure you could create some amazing gameplay from the interior space and layout.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3 Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Final Thoughts

The locations and images presented here are not simply to copy but be inspired by. Use your creativity to merge the lcoations with your ideas and how they could look in the Half-Life (or whatever) universe.

Some would look especially cool when combined with the Combine blue metal.

I hope to post a part 2 of this Concrete Wonders series before Christmas. Stay Tuned.

Oh, and if you see something that could be suitable for a Real Theme post, please email me: [email protected]

Thanks for reading and Happy and Creative Mapping!

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7 Comments

  1. Pedro_The_Swift

    Its no wonder Aussies travel overseas for holidays with sights like those,,
    Great collection Phillip..

    Reply
  2. Monkeymo

    The Brazilian concert hall looks like it could be a Combine structure, just retexture it and add some Combine gizmos.

    Reply
  3. Miigga

    Wow, it’s interesting to see the Haukilahti water tower on here, considering I see it in real life very often.

    If you want to find more cool concrete buildings, I recommend doing a google image search for “brutalist architecture”.

    Reply
  4. GreenPepper

    I’m a big fan of brutalism as well, check out the Buffalo City Court Building:
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Buffalo_City_Court_Building%2C_1971-74%2C_Pfohl%2C_Roberts_and_Biggie_%288448022295%29.jpg

    Reply
    1. PlanetPhillip

      That’s a great looking building.

      Reply
  5. Bolloxed

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_Pavilion

    Reply
    1. PlanetPhillip

      Almost like a Sydney Opera House.

      Reply

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