Architecture
Anthologica Universe Atlas / Universes / Archaeron / Meisylvan Culture / Architecture

Meisylvan architecture is heavily influenced by the druidic practice of lifeshaping. Many meisylvan buildings are grown from living trees, which produces a flowing style blended into the existing terrain. A similar aesthetic, known as Meivis (Bower) style, dominates even manually-constructed buildings. Everything in meisylvan lands is built in flowing curves and arches, fitted to the land and trees so that it seems part of the landscape. This makes wood sylvan towns and cities aesthetically pleasing places, but it also makes them difficult to spot from a distance. Many communities build their homes specifically to be well-concealed. The most common method of concealment is building most structures in the canopies of trees. This is a common practice even among colorful, unhidden settlements. Wood sylphs even build large structures in the trees, often using several trunks and occasionally artificial columns to support sprawling complexes.

Belassal temples are among the most beautiful structures built by meisylphs. They form domes of intricate latticework, layering thin strands of wood in flowing patterns everywhere. Small living trees are typically lifeshaped together and arrayed in complex patterns. Different types of wood and bark are carefully grown together into designs instead of using paint. Berries and flowers speckle the interwoven boughs, filling the structure with color. Belassal temples are generally constructed around a massive central tree. Druids use silver oaks, which are endemic to Shiekli, but meisylvan tribes use a tree of their community’s spirit grove.