Building Template | World Anvil Codex

Buildings & Landmark Template

Restructuring the Codex

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Location, Location, Location

Wonders, natural and built, ruins, dungeons, temples, great trees, smithy, inn, castle, cave. Anything that you can point to and people consider significant enough to name. This template isn't specifically for something man-made. It can be for landmarks, like a tree, a rock formation, or even a coin embedded in the center of a crossroad. Is it a ruin, and if so, what was it like beforehand?   Perhaps your characters use this important location to figure out where they are or want to go next. An abandoned structure suddenly becomes a place of refuge for a notorious fugitive. A message inscribed on the walls of an ancient cave unveils an ominous prophecy. The skull of a legendary behemoth marks the grounds of a hunting challenge held once a century, inspiring countless ballads.   The example used in this template is the real-world Colosseum, but this is just one very specific use of this template!  
The template has many prompt boxes which can be filled in. Use them for inspiration and to help format your article. Do not feel like you have to fill out all of them!
  The terms in the braces below each heading tell you under which tab this prompt appears and what the title of the box is.

Location Organization Chart

This feature is available to Master, Grandmaster and Sage guild members.
The hierarchy of the locations can be visually represented by the automatically created organization trees. All you need to do is fill in the Parent prompt in all of the relevant location articles. This organization tree is added to the bottom of each article in the metadata section.

Purpose / Function

(GENERIC > PURPOSE)
What is the intended purpose of the building/landmark and which, if different, was its original reason for being? Was the building a house or home, a gathering place, a retreat away from society, a mine? How has the purpose changed over time?  
The Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial shows as well as a variety of other events. The shows, called munera, were always given by private individuals rather than the state. They had a strong religious element but were also demonstrations of power and family prestige, and were immensely popular with the population. Another popular type of show was the animal hunt, or venatio.
— Wikipedia

Design

(ROOM > DESIGN)
What are the dimensions of the room? Is it square or rectangular? What color and what material is the ceiling/floor/walls made of?

Entries

(ROOM > ENTRIES)
What are the entries (or possibly, exits only) for the room? Are there any windows? Are they locked, barred, reinforced?

Sensory & Appearance

(ROOM > SENSORY & APPEARANCES)
What do people entering the room see, smell, feel and hear. How much lighting is there available and where is it coming from? Is there the foul stench of death penetrating their nostrils, or perhaps the eerie sound of a music box by the window? Is it icy cold or pleasantly warm?

Denizens

(ROOM > DENIZENS)
Which people, creatures, or monsters call this room their home or can be found here regularly? Think rats, cockroaches, Bob the Bard, or Hfthang the friendly Cthuhlu.

Contents & Furnishings

(ROOM > CONTENTS & FURNISHING)
What sort of items can be found in the room? Tools, weapons, furniture, electronic devices on the walls, or unique magical puzzles waiting to be solved!

Valuables

(ROOM > VALUABLES & TREASURE)
What treasures wait to be discovered in this room? Hidden stashes of gold and silver? Works of art hanging off the walls? A statue made of emerald on a pedestal in the middle of the room?

Hazards & Traps

(ROOM > HAZARDS & TRAPS)
What kind of traps and hazards can be found in the room? How are they activated or deactivated? Is there any intricate mechanism locking people inside? Or maybe the floor is lava!

Special Properties

(ROOM > SPECIAL PROPERTIES)
What sort of special properties is the room imbued with? Air ducts, running water, powered by life support, is it airtight or a magic dampening field? Does it have an invisible floor or ceiling, are the walls radiating light, or does it teleport you to another dimension?

Alterations

(GENERIC > ALTERATIONS)
What sort of alterations have been done to the building during the time of its existence and which purposes do they serve? Why were the alterations made in the first place? Who - or what - made them? Did someone attempt to vandalize the structure or destroy it, leading to the alterations to be created as a form of reconstruction or preservation? Did someone decide they didn't like having the symbology of a previous ruler everywhere and replaced those symbols with their own?  
In 2011 Diego Della Valle, head of the shoe firm Tod's, entered into an agreement with local officials to sponsor a €25 million restoration of the Colosseum. Work was planned to begin at the end of 2011, taking up to two and a half years. Due to the controversial nature of using a public–private partnership to fund the restoration, work was delayed and began in 2013. The restoration is the first full cleaning and repair in the Colosseum's history.
— Wikipedia

Architecture

(GENERIC > ARCHITECTURE)
Which is the style of architecture used in this building? Which is the stone or wood used for the walls of its buildings? How do people traditionally adorn their structures (e.g. white picket fences, whitewashed walls with ocean blue roofs, or brightly colored doors)? Whose style was the building built to imitate? Where these buildings from "outland" invaders bringing their own styles with them to an area that is less friendly to that style of architecture?

History

(GENERIC > HISTORY)
A short description of the history of the landmark or building. You can make this as long or as short as you'd like - who controlled this place? What historical value does it have? What value will it have?

Tourism

(GENERIC > TOURISM)
What sort of people visit this location as tourists, what are they eager to see and visit and experience? Where do they stay during their time there? How do the locals make a living from the tourism this location brings?  
The Colosseum today is now a major tourist attraction in Rome with thousands of tourists each year entering to view the interior arena. There is now a museum dedicated to Eros in the upper floor of the outer wall of the building. Part of the arena floor has been re-floored. Beneath the Colosseum, a network of subterranean passageways once used to transport wild animals and gladiators to the arena opened to the public in summer 2010.
— Wikipedia
Building & Landmark Types - Click to Expand
Abbey
Acropolis / Citadel
Airport
Alleyway
Allotment
Amphitheatre
Apartment
Apartment building / Tenament
Apothecary
Aqueduct
Arcade
Architectural Element, Catwalk
Architectural Element, Dungeon
Architectural Element, Entrance / Entryway
Architectural Element, Gallery
Architectural Element, Rooftop
Archive
Archway / Triumphal Arch
Arcology / Residential Complex
Arena
Arsenal
Art gallery
Aviary
Bank / Treasury
Bar
Barber / Dentist / Surgery
Barracks
Barrow / Burial ground
Bathhouse
Battlesite / Battlefield
Bench
Blacksmith / Smithy
Boathouse / Wharf
Brewery / Winery
Bridge
Brothel / Whorehouse
Bunker
Cafe / Tearoom
Cairn
Canal
Canal lock
Casino
Castle
Catacomb
Cathedral / Great temple
Cemetery
Chapel
Circus
Clinic
College / Academy
Common area
Consulate
Courthouse
Cowshed
Crypt
Customs house
Dam
Dance club
Datacenter
Dungeon
Embassy
Estate
Factory
Farm
Fishery
Footpath
Fort
Fortress
Foundry
Fountain
Garage
Garden
Gatehouse
Gazebo / Bandstand
Geographic Feature
Government complex
Graveyard
Great hall
Guard post / house
Guildhall
Gym
Hangar, Massive
Hideout
Highway
Hospital
Hospitality, Camping
Hospitality, Hotel
Hospitality, Motel
Hospitality, Resort
Hospitality, Spa
House
House, Large
Hut
Hydroponics / Agricultural complex
Inn
Jeweler
Keep
Kiosk / Small store
Laboratory
Lair
Landing Pad
Library
Lighthouse
Lodge, Cabin
Manor house / Meeting hall
Mansion / Villa
Manufactory
Market square
Market stall
Megastructure, Dyson Sphere
Megastructure, Land based
Megastructure, Orbital scale

Megastructure, Planetary scale
Megastructure, Stellar scale
Megastructure, Trans-orbital
Memorial / War Memorial
Military base / complex
Mill
Mine
Ministry / City hall
Missile launch facility
Monastery
Monument / Statue, Large
Monument, Large
Museum
Natural Wonder
Observatory / Telescope
Office
Opera house
Orbital, Beacon / Buoy
Orbital, Halo / Ringworld
Orbital, Outpost
Orbital, Satelite
Orbital, Shipyard
Orbital, Space elevator
Orbital, Station
Orbital, Way/ Refueling station
Orbital, Weapons platform
Orphanage
Palace
Park
Parliament
Pier
Pigsty
Police/Fire station
Portal
Post office
Power plant
Prison
Prison camps
Pub / Tavern / Restaurant
Public hall / house
Quarry
Racing track / Hippodrome
Railroad
Refinery / Industrial complex
Reliquary
Reservoir
Retirement home
Road
Room, Animal, Apiary
Room, Animal, Aquarium
Room, Animal, Aviary
Room, Animal, Dovecot
Room, Animal, Enclosure
Room, Animal, Insect Room
Room, Animal, Menagerie
Room, Animal, Pen
Room, Animal, Stable
Room, Animal, Tackroom
Room, Chamber, Council
Room, Chamber, Execution
Room, Chamber, Teleportation
Room, Chamber, Torture
Room, Common, Antechamber
Room, Common, Attic
Room, Common, Balcony
Room, Common, Basement
Room, Common, Bathroom
Room, Common, Bedroom
Room, Common, Boiler room
Room, Common, Boudoir
Room, Common, Broom Closet
Room, Common, Cellar
Room, Common, Cloak room
Room, Common, Closet / Wardrobe
Room, Common, Conservatory
Room, Common, Dining Room
Room, Common, Dressing room
Room, Common, Elevator / Lift
Room, Common, Family Room
Room, Common, Gameroom
Room, Common, Garage
Room, Common, Garderobe
Room, Common, Green Room
Room, Common, Hall
Room, Common, Kitchen
Room, Common, Living Room
Room, Common, Office
Room, Common, Pantry
Room, Common, Parlour
Room, Common, Reception
Room, Common, Sauna
Room, Common, Smoking Room
Room, Common, Solar
Room, Common, Spa
Room, Common, Stairwell/Staircase
Room, Common, Study
Room, Common, Swimming Pool
Room, Common, Tea Room
Room, Common, Toilet / WC
Room, Common, Undercroft
Room, Common, Utility Closet
Room, Common, Waiting room
Room, Common, Washing room / Laundry
Room, Common, Workshop
Room, Conference / Meeting Room
Room, Corridor, Junction
Room, Corridor, Section
Room, Corridor. Fork
Room, Court, Legal
Room, Dome, Living
Room, Dome, Terrarium
Room, Education, Auditorium
Room, Education, Classroom
Room, Education, Lecture Hall
Room, Education, Library
Room, Entertainment, Arcade
Room, Entertainment, Games court
Room, Entertainment, Holodeck
Room, Entertainment, Ice Ring
Room, Entertainment, Playroom
Room, Hall, Banquet
Room, Hall, Dance
Room, Hall, Mead
Room, Hall, Throne Room
Room, Lab, Alchemical
Room, Lab, Chemistry
Room, Lab, Scientific
Room, Medical, Apothecary
Room, Medical, Delivery Room
Room, Medical, Diagnostic / Imaging
Room, Medical, ER
Room, Medical, Examination
Room, Medical, ICU
Room, Medical, Laboratory
Room, Medical, Nursery
Room, Medical, Recovery Room
Room, Medical, Surgery Theatre
Room, Medical, Ward
Room, Military, Armoury
Room, Military, Command & Control / CiC)
Room, Military, Gatehouse
Room, Military, Guardhouse
Room, Military, Mess hall
Room, Military, Wall section
Room, Military, War Room
Room, Natural, Cavern
Room, Outdoors, Alleyway
Room, Outdoors, Allotment
Room, Outdoors, Court
Room, Outdoors, Courtyard
Room, Outdoors, Garden
Room, Outdoors, Greenhouse
Room, Outdoors, Swimming pool
Room, Religious, Aisles
Room, Religious, Apse
Room, Religious, Chancel
Room, Religious, Chapel
Room, Religious, Choir stalls
Room, Religious, Clerestory
Room, Religious, Loft
Room, Religious, Mausoleum
Room, Religious, Monastic Cell
Room, Religious, Nave
Room, Religious, Pulpit
Room, Religious, Sanctuary
Room, Religious, Sanctum / Septum
Room, Religious, Shrine
Room, Religious, Steeple
Room, Religious, Tomb
Room, Religious, Transept
Room, Religious, Triforium
Room, Religious, Vestry
Room, Scientific, Laboratory
Room, Secret, Chamber
Room, Secret, Entry
Room, Secret, Passage
Room, Security, Cell
Room, Security, Safe
Room, Security, Saferoom
Room, Security, Treasury / Treasure Room
Room, Security, Vault
Room, Ship, Armourer Citadel
Room, Ship, Armoury
Room, Ship, Bilge
Room, Ship, Bridge
Room, Ship, Cabin
Room, Ship, Caboose
Room, Ship, Cannon / Gun deck
Room, Ship, Deck
Room, Ship, Engine Room
Room, Ship, Fire room
Room, Ship, Flying Bridge
Room, Ship, Forecastle
Room, Ship, Galley
Room, Ship, Gangway
Room, Ship, Gunroom
Room, Ship, Hold
Room, Ship, Magazine
Room, Ship, Maproom
Room, Ship, Navigation
Room, Ship, Operations
Room, Ship, Orlop
Room, Ship, Prominade
Room, Ship, Quarters, Captain
Room, Ship, Quarters, Crew
Room, Ship, Quarters, Officer
Room, Ship, Saferoom
Room, Ship, Sick bay
Room, Ship, Steerage
Room, Ship, Wardroom
Room, Special, Buttery
Room, Special, Catacomb
Room, Special, Counting House
Room, Special, Crawlspace / Jefferies tube
Room, Special, Crypt
Room, Special, Engineering
Room, Special, Factory Floor
Room, Special, Forge
Room, Special, Furnace / incinerator
Room, Special, Ice house
Room, Special, Observatory
Room, Special, Oratory / Solar
Room, Special, Postroom
Room, Special, Scullery
Room, Special, Server Room
Room, Special, Trophies room
Room, Storage, Freezer
Room, Storage, Loading Bay
Room, Storage, Other
Room, Storage, Warehouse
Room, Studio, Art
Room, Studio, Film
Room, Studio, Music
Room, Studio, Other
Room, Theatre, Box
Room, Theatre, Hall
Room, Theatre, Home
Room, Theatre, Stage
Room, Tower, Clock
Room, Tower, Other
Room, Tower, Wizard
Room, Training, Gym
Room, Training, Sparring
School
Seaport
Sewer, network
Sewer, section
Shed
Sheepfold
Shelter
Shop, Cobbler
Shop, Generic
Shop, Magic
Shop, Tailor
Shopping mall / Commercial Complex
Shrine
Skyscraper
Slaughterhouse
Smelter
Spaceport
Spot
Stables
Stadium
Statue
Storage house / Silo
Street
Supermarket / Megastore
Tattoo Parlor
Technology Complex
Temple / Church
Temple / Religious complex
Theatre / Concert hall
Theme park / Entertainment complex
Timberyard
Tolls
Tomb
Tower
Tower, Guard
Tower, Mage
Tower, Telecomms
Tower, Wall
Tower, Water
Transportation hub
Transportation station
Tree
Tree house
Tunnel
University / Educational complex
Vehicle, Ship
Vehicle, Spaceship
Viewpoint
Vineyard / Orchard
Wall section
Warehouse / Granary
Warehouse, Commercial
Warehouse, Industrial
Warehouse, Massive / Storage complex
Warehouse, Residential
Water pump / Well, Large
Well
Workshop
World wonder
RUINED STRUCTURE
The point in time which the building became a ruin. If anything is added to this the building will be marked as "ruined".
Founding Date
The point in time that the landmark/building was constructed.
Alternative Names
This is where you can put other names for the building/landmark, and it will appear in the sidebar.
Type
Allotment
Environmental Effects
(ROOM > ENVIRONMENT & EFFECTS)
Think of magical or natural effects permeating the room, building, or landmark. Temperature, humidity, pressure, auras, lack of oxygen, antigravity fields, etc. Is the room damp, bringing in the scent of mold as you take squelching steps across the carpet? Is it cold and dry, as if every breath would shatter the air?
Related Ethnicities
Ruling/Owning Rank
Compartment of Vehicle
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Related Tradition (Primary)
Related Report (Primary Locations)
Related Materials

Related Prompts

The prompts listed below are part of the Worldbuilding Prompts that can be found under the Community menu. These prompts use the template discussed in this article. Using these prompts is a great way to expand your worldbuilding!

 
 


Cover image: Colosseo by FeaturedPics

Comments

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Jan 21, 2022 13:32 by James Woodwright

It would be really helpful if you could do the same for the organization template.

Jan 22, 2022 12:30 by James Woodwright

thank you!