Every year on May 4th, fans across the globe celebrate Star Wars Day with lightsabers and a shared passion for a galaxy far, far away. But beyond its starships and alien species, one of the saga’s most underrated design elements is its architecture and urban design.
From the sterile corridors of the Death Star to the temple ruins of Ahch-To, Star Wars architecture packs a punch with its futurism in ways that feel both alien and strangely familiar. And as it turns out, our own planet is home to buildings that wouldn’t look out of place in the Star Wars universe. Who is behind these otherworldly buildings? Some of the world’s best architects of course! Scroll down to find our list.
1. Bruder Klaus Field Chapel – Mechernich, Germany
Architect: Peter Zumthor
A small monolithic structure that feels like a sacred Jedi retreat. Its charred black interior, created by burning timber inside concrete, captures the spiritual and austere essence of Star Wars architecture on planets like Jedha or Exegol. Who better than Peter Zumthor to capture the evocative sensoriality of haptic architecture?
2. Apple Park – Cupertino, USA
Architect: Foster + Partners
This circular tech campus resembles a landed star cruiser. The utopian design and futuristic form could house the Galactic Council on Chandrila or serve as a civilian hub on Alderaan. It’s a clean, idealistic take on Star Wars architecture that suggests optimism and order. Don’t you think the interiors of Momtha Estate look like they belong inside the circular Apple Park?
3. London’s Futuristic Skyscrapers – United Kingdom
Architects: Various
The sharp lines of The Shard by Renzo Piano and the bullet-shaped form of The Gherkin by Foster + Partners evoke the dense urban architecture of Coruscant. These high-rise icons are a perfect real-world parallel to the political and economic zones of the Star Wars capital. We also think Hong Kong could be a close second.
4. RAK Convention Center – Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Architect: OMA
Though not realized, this dark, circular mega-structure feels like a First Order outpost. Its intimidating presence and stark geometry reflect the authoritarian aesthetic seen in Star Wars architecture on Starkiller Base or Mustafar.
5. Baháʼí Temple – Santiago, Chile
Architect: Hariri Pontarini Architects
Nine glowing petals form a light-filled space that feels like a meditative temple on Ahch-To. Its organic forms and sacred ambiance reflect Jedi values, showing how Star Wars architecture often draws from nature and spirituality.
6. La Muralla Roja – Calpe, Spain
Architect: Ricardo Bofill
This colorful, geometric fortress looks like a rebel outpost on Tatooine or Jedha. Its brutalist design, stacked blocks, and maze-like layout are textbook Star Wars architecture, with visual echoes of hidden bases and desert dwellings.
Interested in learning how to create architecture that channels narrative, symbolism, and futuristic aesthetics? Explore PAACADEMY’s course Fusing Realities: AI-Driven Architectural Narratives.
7. MOCAPE – Shenzhen, China
Architect: Coop Himmelb(l)au
This cultural complex’s glowing metallic shell and overlapping forms give it the aura of a tech archive or galactic museum. Its cyberpunk aesthetic fits right into Coruscant’s entertainment districts or Canto Bight’s elite zones.
8. Dongdaemun Design Plaza – Seoul, South Korea
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
A flowing, spacecraft-like design that feels straight from Kamino or a Clone Wars research facility. The sinuous curves and seamless exterior define Star Wars architecture rooted in biomorphism and digital fluidity.
9. Milwaukee Art Museum – Milwaukee, USA
Architect: Santiago Calatrava
A structure with wings that unfold like a starfighter, this museum blends organic movement with structural grace. Its white sculptural form evokes Alderaanian ceremonial architecture.
10. Dominus Winery – Napa Valley, USA
Architects: Herzog & de Meuron
Low to the ground and made of basalt rock, this minimalist, brutalist structure feels like a hidden Sith base or Jedi ruins buried in the desert. It captures the monastic side of Star Wars architecture, where mystery and legacy shape the space.
Star Wars environments communicate culture, power, and philosophy through built form. Whether it’s the warm brutalism of Tatooine or the glimmering utopia of Naboo, the saga’s design language is vast and meaningful. These real-world structures prove that Star Wars architecture isn’t just science fiction, it’s an aesthetic grounded in visionary, real-world design.
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