A magnificent Australian castle, crafted through the tireless efforts of the entire team in Minecraft Bedrock.
Having once lived in Europe, I realized after moving to Canada that I had viewed Europe as an expansive realm filled with a multitude of cultures, languages, and most importantly – cuisines. Each culinary tradition is unique, and their combinations create something extraordinary and delicious. There are the picturesque mountains of Switzerland, the crystal-clear glacial lakes of Scandinavia, the beaches of Croatia, and the cheeses of France. Even for seasoned travelers, there’s always something new to discover. For instance, the sound of church bells is truly awe-inspiring. Here, one can take a short stroll through Belgium and unexpectedly find themselves in Luxembourg.
In Canada, however, things are quite different. If I were to travel 4,000 miles west from my current location, I would still remain within the same country.
Perhaps by autumn, I will have the chance to reside in the Old Fallen Fortress, which was constructed on the site of a well-preserved castle in Australia. It features azure lakes, rocky hills topped with ancient pines, all of which makes me nostalgic for the good old European holidays.
“Initially, we aimed to build the castle on flat land, but we were disappointed with the outcome,” says Fram, one of the artists at Fall Studios in Minecraft. “Then I had a brilliant idea: to create a city on a cliff amidst a massive waterfall. I immediately recognized that such a landscape would be a perfect addition to our castle and began terraforming.”
The castle, nearly impossible to access, possesses an otherworldly and mysterious quality. This isn’t merely because the moat is teeming with bloodthirsty crocodiles or that a dragon flies overhead; it’s not even due to the precariously suspended bridge over bubbling lava. The castle envelops you with its allure, igniting a desire to explore. Yet, the instinct for self-preservation lingers, and a sense of danger compels us to flee in search of a spare pair of pants.
“Although the build is called ‘Old Fallen Castle,’ it’s actually in very good condition,” states Tom, the founder of Fall Studios. The name reflects the team’s intention to infuse a piece of themselves into the project. “Since this is our first endeavor, we wanted to merge our team name with the castle’s, resulting in ‘Old Fallen Castle.’ There’s no more truth in advertising!”
Many builders in Minecraft utilize photographs of completed projects, detailed planning, and architectural studies to recreate their visions. However, the team took a slightly different approach. “During our trip to Austria, we visited many beautiful locations and drew inspiration for creating new builds. Therefore, we aimed to replicate every memorable detail as accurately as possible,” explains Tom.
The team approached their work with great care, evident in the materials used to construct the castle. “The walls are primarily made of stone, while the roof consists of wood, closely resembling the castle that served as our model,” Tom notes. This also means that the color palette is rather subdued (some builders even used cacti to achieve the desired shades), giving the impression that the walls and columns are built into the rock itself.
Working with a team allows for much faster construction than working alone. “We built the castle in just seven days, spending only 2-4 hours each day, while landscaping took about 10-15 hours.” With so many people involved, they could focus on more details compared to large-scale projects created by a single individual. The castle has its own interior, inspired by the Great Hall of Winterfell from Game of Thrones.
“Gradually, you get accustomed to teamwork, and your spatial awareness improves,” admits Tom. Fall Studios plans their builds, but honestly, they often abandon the plan and start improvising. “Our sole goal is to enjoy the building process and the results of our work.” A well-built team is the key to a well-executed project!
