Sky Gardens

“Celestial Gardens” by ArchiGa has integrated culture into gardening.

We, the members of the Minecraft headquarters, are true admirers of Greek temples and structures. Today’s creation, “Celestial Gardens,” crafted by builder ArchiGa, has left us in awe. This is precisely what we have been waiting for without even realizing it. It’s a stunning blend, reminiscent of a wedding cake combined with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon!

The Celestial Gardens were constructed for the Minecraft skyscraper contest. This magnificent, vast building showcases classical Greek architecture. The interior is meticulously designed down to the smallest detail, featuring over a hundred columns both inside and out! That’s quite impressive!

The structure’s blue and yellow colors are inspired by the actual Hanging Gardens, which were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, alongside the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Colossus of Rhodes. Many have attempted to recreate this incredible masterpiece; artists painted pictures, poets wrote verses, trying to convey and “revive” the long-lost Hanging Gardens of Semiramis in Babylon. Even Minecraft Bedrock has seen its share of these constructions. They are a popular building project that allows players to showcase their skills.

However, the Celestial Gardens, known as “Caelestes Horti” in Latin, represent something beyond what the name suggests. Although the creator drew inspiration from the legendary structure, he admits that it cannot simply be called a retreat. ArchiGa describes it as “a tranquil place suitable for disconnecting from the real world, both physically and spiritually. A space to connect with nature and art.”

The architecture of Naples, located on Italy’s western coast near Pompeii and Vesuvius, served as inspiration for ArchiGa. He aimed to create something in a similar style. “I wanted to capture these areas in Minecraft Pocket Edition,” says ArchiGa, who resides in those very regions. “This not only influenced my creativity and personality but also played a significant role in spreading Western culture worldwide.”

Before starting his construction in Minecraft Bedrock, ArchiGa visited Neapolitan gardens, examining everything from “monumental royal parks” to “small gardens with breathtaking sea views.” He learned about color usage, styles, and distinctive features of all structures, along with their layout and symmetry.

The immense height, stunning symmetry, and sprawling gardens pale in comparison to the complexity of creating the frescoes adorning the inner walls. If you’re unfamiliar, frescoes are paintings executed quickly on wet plaster using watercolor.

“Frescoes were meant to beautify rooms,” explains ArchiGa. Each was designed and handcrafted. These works feature mythological designs; one fresco is based on a piece by Neapolitan Baroque artist Luca Giordano, while another depicts a map of the Bay of Naples. Painting frescoes is no easy task, and replicating them accurately using only blocks is even more challenging. ArchiGa achieved the extraordinary!

And that wasn’t even the most impressive aspect of the build. To make the Celestial Gardens in Minecraft more accurate, the author studied architectural mathematics rules, which honestly, I can’t fathom how one could understand. ArchiGa took proportions into account during construction. There are specific ratios that ancient architects adhered to, which were crucial elements in creating any building. ArchiGa believed that utilizing these was essential for an authentic replica. He even wrote about it in his blog. “I wanted to amaze people, and I think I can confidently say I succeeded!”

The amusing part is that ArchiGa did not draft a plan for constructing the Celestial Gardens; everything was created spontaneously. “Of course, everything was built from blocks, so I had to spend a lot of time selecting the right color and texture.” This process consumed a considerable amount of time—at least three hours a day for 20-25 days! “The frescoes and gardens were incredibly labor-intensive,” says ArchiGa. But just look at it; it’s beautiful. I believe it was worth it! The interior is stunning, and each component looks even cooler individually. Fountains, pools, arches, and ten statues representing six architectural values, along with the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air.

After witnessing all this, one question remains: why has no one built the Hanging Gardens in our world yet? It would look much better if a few gray, drab buildings were demolished and replaced with giant, magnificent wonders filled with fountains, trees, and pools. Now I know what I’ll do first when I create my city. I think ArchiGa would excel at this task.