Architect Lev Libeskind unveils the new Rainbow Road building that is set to start construction in central Phoenix. As the name suggests, it is inspired by the iconic scenes of the animated Mario Kart racing game. The structure will function as apartment units and feature 36 units in total -- all of which will have emblems that are inspired by the Nintendo game through the facade.
Additional details include the colorful path that will be starting from the sidewalk and travel to the center of the courtyard. Libeskind speaks about the challenge of this design to The Architect's Newspaper, noting that it was hard to “reinterpret the classic video game Mario Kart in a contemporary way.”
Image Credit: Libeskind Studio Design
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Game-inspired Architecture
- Architectural designs are using popular video games as inspiration for buildings, providing opportunities for new, unique structures.
- Bringing Fictional Worlds to Life
- Designers are taking inspiration from fictional worlds and bringing elements of those into reality, creating immersive experiences for those living in or visiting those structures.
- Nostalgia-driven Design
- Designers are tapping into the nostalgia of popular cultural classics to create buildings that evoke strong feelings of familiarity and connection for their residents and visitors.
Where This Applies
- Real Estate
- The real estate industry can leverage architectural designs inspired by popular video games to attract younger, pop culture-loving tenants.
- Hospitality
- The hospitality industry can utilize game-inspired architectural designs to create immersive, story-driven hotels that are a destination in and of themselves, setting them apart from more traditional accommodations.
- Entertainment
- The entertainment industry can collaborate with game-inspired architects to create real-life experiences based on popular fictional worlds from movies, TV shows, and video games.
