Manufacturing Fantasy
Leisure architecture has its roots in escapism and fantasy. As a reaction against the modernization and mechanization of society, the need to“get away” is more profound than ever before. Entertainment and amusement for the common man are huge industries, ranging from books, movies, and video games, to theme parks, fantasy camps, and destination resorts. The greater restrictions placed on the individual in modern society fuels our appetite for fantasy. In today's world, we are driven by time schedules and longer work hours. We are under more pressure to perform and must bear more responsibility than ever before. With the development of elaborate machinery and robotics, our occupations are more intellectually oriented and less relegated to manual labor. Sterile work environments and repetitive tasks create in our minds a demand for distraction. We are seeking solitude and refuge from a rapidly changing, fast-paced, and often dangerous world. Escape, even for short periods of time, can have a tremendous positive impact on our physical and mental well being.
As individuals, we attach great meaning to our fantasies. Pictures and images are the language of our dreams and fantasies. Therefore, the resort is a place borne of the imagination. It must live up to the limitlessness of our minds while being firmly grounded in reality. It must make the unreal, real. While resorts may have different variations and levels of theming, from references to ancient buildings or places to full-scale recreation of legendary realms, it is the quality of the design and construction that makes them work. Through the materials, detailing, and craftsmanship, the building must have a life, a history, a belonging. The more fantastic the theme, the more the guest is immersed in the environment, and the more believable it must be. All elements must cooperate to contribute to the illusion. Good architectural design requires a profound understanding of the guests at their most intimate level; their dreams, hopes, and fantasies. The designer must create a place of the imagination, a believable environment, to successfully recreate the feelings and emotions evoked by our fantasies.