A look at some of the best set design in film

My name is Joe Cianciotto, and I’m an architect. During my spare time, I love watching movies. Because of my background, I can’t help but marvel at some of the set designs I see.

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Take for example the HBO series, “Game of Thrones.” Sure, some of the parts of the set may be CGI, but that hardly dampens the magnificence of its architectural accomplishments. In fact, many of the fantasy feature films and TV shows have set design that blows my mind.


In “The Lord of the Rings,” Peter Jackson had several locations converted into structures from Middle Earth. The results were breathtaking, especially when caught with the right camera angle. They can all still be seen in New Zealand. The Shire alone evokes so many emotions of warmth and merriment.


Harry Potter’s Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry also has several magical sets in the main structure that viewers actually feel both the magic and ominous overture of He Who Must Not Be Named.

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Not to be outdone, science-fiction films have also gone that extra mile in set design. Films such as “Blade Runner” and “Aliens” have made full use of the creativity of set designers, much to the audience’s awe.


What film has your favorite set design? Message me, Joe Cianciotto, in the comments section below and share your favorites.


Joe Cianciotto is a San Francisco Bay Area-based architect. He is a movie buff and enjoys a diverse selection of genres, including superhero films, independent science fiction, mumblecore, and Golden-age dramas and epics. For similar posts, visit this page.