Your Castle?

[Cognisant]

So I was watching a documentary about the Forbidden City and the amount of thought that went into the design of it is amazing, particularly how it added to the emperor's persona. So here's my question, if you were the leader of the modern world (so you've got near unlimited resources) what would your grand castle be (if indeed anything like a castle) and more importantly how would this design reflect who you are and the role you play in global events?

 

[Adamastor]

Hmmm... Although I've already thought about how become a world leader and what my plans for humanity would be, I've never thought about a castle or a place like this.

I've always thought that, I wouldn't be able to spend much time in a single place. As a despot it seems pretty silly (just a feeling I have) to stay in a single place, if in fact in own all of the world...

Anyway, if I had to build something like a nest, where I would have to spend most of my time as a world leader, it would probably have some bizarre outer appearence, but it probably wouldn't be me who'd design it, because I like bizarre things; The inside would be made to fit most of my interests, having a bit of everything: a library, a tennis courts, a laboratory, etc, etc. Since, it's likely I would be switching from a place to another, each area of interest (say, the library) would be managed by someone I would choose, provided this person as some good sense, so I would be more of an user than anything...

In spite of me not being the one that would design it (too much of hassle, it's easier to approve or not ), if I had to draw some outer appereance: it would be something with some round, spiky white things, contrasted with black windows, not standardized, not homogeneous and with lots of empty space around it, so it could get bigger and bigger as my society progressed

 

[BitRogue]

Hmm, I've had a couple of ideas on this with my previous dabbling with creative fiction.

One thing that appeals to me is the idea of the Royal Palace on Naboo in Star Wars. Built on the edge of a huge waterfall, multi tiered and a grand bridge arching over the main river. The grounds of the palace extend for maybe a hunderd kilometers in every direction, with open fields and forests. Looking out over the waterfall encompasses a view looking far down the valley which incorporates a great lake around which a shiny city has sprung up. Beyond that is the sparkling blue sea. Behind are mountains, high and capped white with snow.

OK, probably not on this planet, which brings me to the other idea Ive speculated upon.

An orbital palace.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

A mountaintop fortress. Even though there probably is no such thing as an impenetrable defense, I'd like to try. It would be a paradise on the inside and bad-ass scary on the outside. Perhaps it would be black. Polished onyx walls and black steel gun turrets. AA defenses of course and machine gun nests. Lots of machine gun nests.

Inside there'd be a garden, a library, a hot tub and the best computers money can buy. I'd leave the rest up to someone else to design. I'm not interested in the details right now. I'm sure I would one my reign begins.

 

[zxc]

I've always dreamed of living in my own haunted abode. Firstly, there would be more than one. At least two: a great castle, and a huge old mansion.

Both of these will be absolutely massive, and filled with hundreds of secret passageways that only I know about. Trapdoors, pipe organs, and secrets. Both will have an enormous main library, and numerous smaller libraries. No tech is in sight in either of these places, but hidden, yes.
:smiley_emoticons_mr

 

[Silas]

I'd definitely gather all the designers and artists whose style/vision was similar, then wield/direct them to my bidding, but with plenty of freedom for them.
I'd have the castle over a vast wilderness, maybe hovering over it, (anti-gravity technology is now exposed).
There would have to be a grand observatory tower x10, with a greenhouse at the top full of all sorts of wonderful plants, butterflies etc.
Plenty of windows, windows everywhere, natural light is a necessity. All the stairs would be interchangeably an escalator (made from stone ofc) and/or slide. The slide form having a metal surface, stone may be abit rough.
I like alot of the architecture in Barcelona, so I'd have similar styles running throughout, notably with gothic influences.
Trapdoors and secret passageways are mandatory. Daylight bulbs so no1 gets SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). A camera Obscura room.
An assortment of huge horns/pipes like those in Helms Deep, (because the sounds make you feel energised)
Everything would be covered in realistic forest wallpaper, either that or the whole thing could may be made out of glass of varying degrees of thickness, inner walls could contain flowers and more nature. The colour green is essential.
Ok I could go on (if it's going to be hovering, it may aswell be mobile enough to follow the dawn/dusk), there would be labatories for fellow scientists to find out new technologies for making the world a better place, pillow rooms, a room with a huge fan for freefall practice. etc. etc. etc.
All with zero harmful emissions ofc.

Oh shit hangon the library! Everything has oak, oak spiral staircases, bookcases, etc. The entrance is a slide (varnished oak) and as you alight on the floor you can jump on a ladder (that kind that moves along the bookcases) and ride around the whole place because it's all one continuous winding bookcase!

Phew.

 

[Cognisant]

you can jump on a ladder (that kind that moves along the bookcases) and ride around the whole place because it's all one continuous winding bookcase!

Awesome.

 

[Crazythinker1]

Interesting question. I guess mine would be big, encompassing maybe two hundred acres. It would be open air to reflect my desire to hear everyone's opinions and ideas. There would also be forests and gardens with winding paths through them to help promote a sense of peace, quiet and contemplation. The main gathering area would be a circular, open air pavilion where thoughts, problems, and suggestions could be voiced. My own living quarters would be modest but well lined with books and maybe a small lab for experiments. However, since I fully realize that people are assholes and someone always wants to revolt, The perimeter would be ringed with a high, very advanced wall with anti-aircraft batteries and anti-personnel mines on the outside. And just in case someone wanted to start trouble once inside, the interior would be patrolled by a special security force and would have concealed sniper nests. Of course there would be a vast underground bunker where the ruling elite could go when the shit hit the fan. All in all it would reflect that I have a desire to be fair and understanding, and it would also say that if you pissed me off, you will die, and you will die quickly and in great pain.