Overall Design: Aethelburg is a rigidly structured city built on a perfect grid pattern. Identical, grey, multi-story concrete blocks dominate the landscape, stretching to the horizon in a monotonous repetition. Wide, straight avenues, devoid of ornamentation, cut through the city, prioritizing efficient movement of people and goods above all else. There are no parks, plazas, or other public spaces designed for leisure or social interaction. The city's architecture is purely functional, lacking any decorative elements. The All-Mind insignia – a stylized eye within a triangle – is prominently displayed on every building, a constant reminder of the overarching authority.
Building Types & Functions: The city's blocks are functionally divided, though the external appearance remains uniform. Each block is numbered and categorized for easy identification and control.
Housing Blocks (H-Blocks): These blocks contain cramped, identical living units, each designed to house a single family unit or a small group of workers. Privacy is minimal, and communal facilities are basic and strictly regulated.
Industrial Blocks (I-Blocks): These blocks house factories and workshops, dedicated to the production of essential goods and materials. The work is repetitive and demanding, with little room for individual expression or skill development. The air is thick with the smell of industry, and the constant hum of machinery permeates the city's soundscape.
Work Blocks (W-Blocks): These blocks house administrative offices, data processing centers, and other essential services. The work here is largely bureaucratic, focused on maintaining the city's rigid structure and enforcing the All-Mind's control.
Distribution Blocks (D-Blocks): These blocks serve as central hubs for the distribution of goods and resources throughout the city. Efficient logistics are paramount, with automated systems managing the flow of materials.
Security Blocks (S-Blocks): Strategically placed throughout the city, these blocks house All-Mind security forces and surveillance equipment. Their presence is a constant reminder of the regime's power and its capacity for swift and decisive action against dissent.
Street Layout: The city's streets are wide, straight avenues that intersect at right angles, forming a perfect grid. These avenues are designed for the efficient movement of vehicles and personnel, with designated lanes for different types of traffic. Pedestrian walkways are narrow and strictly regulated, with no room for lingering or socializing. Street lighting is functional and harsh, casting a cold, sterile glow on the city's monotonous landscape. There are no decorative elements, such as street lamps or landscaping.
Points of Interest (Lack Thereof): There is no central plaza or any other focal point in Aethelburg. The city's design actively discourages gathering or social interaction. The only points of interest are the functional buildings themselves, each serving a specific purpose within the rigid structure of the All-Mind's control. Even the occasional break in the uniformity, such as a construction site or a temporary repair, is quickly rectified to maintain the city's monotonous appearance.
Overall Atmosphere: Aethelburg is a city of stark uniformity and oppressive control. The lack of public spaces, the repetitive architecture, and the constant presence of the All-Mind insignia create a sense of alienation and dehumanization. The city's atmosphere is cold, sterile, and devoid of any sense of community or individuality. The rigid structure and efficient functionality serve only to reinforce the All-Mind's absolute power.
