Architecture of Neopia: Virtupets Space Station

I did have a worry that perhaps since the Virtupets Space Station is not technically on Neopia could it be classed in this architectural series, as 'Architecture of Neopia'? My answer came to me in a science book: "Kreludan Engineering" whilst not technically from the Virtupets Space Station, one of the hangar workers happened to have a copy on him. The Virtupets Space Station is a station in geosynchronous orbit. Therefore technically still part of Neopia, in its orbit to be exact. This book taught me more than I needed to know however, for there are finer details on the exact technology behind pumping breathable air and recycling water systems on board, but this is not inherent to the design.

There are four main decks in the Virtupets Space Station: the Supply Deck, the Hangar Deck, the Recreation Deck and the Basement Deck. All visitors arrive just beside the entrance to the Supply Deck, and are then directed upstairs to the Recreation Deck. A visitor could easily entirely bypass the Hangar Deck, and often this is enforced for not many of the workers there are fond of shady Neopians. There is a split in morale here, for the younger generation who perhaps do not remember the history are more than welcoming and accommodating, yet the older generation remain suspicious. Finally, the very lowest deck is entirely off limits, no negotiation, for it cannot even be accessed by the general public.

Exploring first the Recreation Deck, for it seems the logical place to start, I had to remark first on the clean cut environment. The overwhelming colour scheme is blue. The floors resemble a circuit board with tiny paths of light pooling up between the cracks. Although functional, this does have an aesthetic ulterior motive. Whilst the cracks are revealing a little of the technology of the room below, vital life functions, and smooth electrical impulses gliding effortlessly, there is no actual need for this to be on display. The inhabitants are very proud of their technology, aware that they receive visitors. This is a statement: "Look at the confidence we have in our technology; we are putting it on display for you." It is almost artistic.

Furthermore, the use of several mezzanines within the one large warehouse type room creates the impression of divided space. Although it is all ultimately open plan, like a large shopping mall of the future, screens and levels are placed systematically to navigate the flow of people throughout the building smartly. On some of the higher levels are the eateries, overlooking the entire Recreation Deck on the one side, and a spectacular view of Neopia on the other. Just below this is a series of game stations, and shops. Quite a few of these are so high tech that they do not even need to be manned. There is a viewing platform with a deep blue rail running along that looks over into the lowest section of the Recreational Deck. A view far into deep space is offered from this. What the entire Recreational Deck speaks of is efficiency, and yet I find some of the architectural additions are wholly inefficient in their very placement - do they actually have to be there? There is a fine line between minimalist efficiency, which ultimately states that an architectural space should be so efficient and compact that it is an empty bare room, which leads me to the conclusion that much of what you see on the Recreation Deck is aesthetic. I am only being so critical of it because it is such a spectacular piece of architectural innovation unheard of anywhere on Neopia. That gives much room for critique.

The Supply Deck is the next layer down. Where the Recreational Deck had a colour scheme of blue, the Supply Deck is far greener in hues. It consists mostly of a large warehouse sharing occupational space with the Hangar Deck below and locked off by a large metallic door. The architecture in this section of the Space Station is similar to that of the Recreational Deck, but less care has been taken to preserve the pure cleanliness of the room. There is a retrospective aspect in this section, possibly looking back to the days of Dr. Sloth. Where upstairs in the Recreational Deck everything is touch screen and sleek, down here the majority of technology is still manually operated, with levers and buttons and tubes and wires sticking from the walls. The main 'attraction' in the Supply Deck is the Space Weaponry and Space Defense shops. Large and ominous, with huge plaques and bolts sticking from the openings, they are dark rooms with little lighting save for spotlights on the various extortionately priced high tech weaponry. A golden glow issues from this section. The architecture is menacing. The symbolism here being that you must earn the right to enter this section. Here we are seeing the other 'side' to the Virtupets Space Station.

Finally, down below we find the Hangar Deck. The least known area and for that reason the most interesting. If the Supply Deck had been 'retro' in comparison to the Recreational Deck, then this deck is abysmally backward its a surprise it even maintains vital life functions. But then, the architecture of any Hangar Deck is built purely for purpose, seldom to please or to sparkle. This is where we can find the most gems. For example, the great doors are large and rectangular with the angled shaded in. This reflects the more streamlined circular nature of the aircraft which board it. The walls are a dull green and grey in colour, with actual functional circuit board connections running underneath loose wires. There is no true reason for it to be any other way. Symbolically, this is a no-nonsense room, that in time of military distress could launch a hundred fighter pilots from and like a conveyer belt quickly patch them up to be sent out again. As I say, functional.

Between floors, are many more secrets to be found. As the visitors are shuffled into the smooth and sleek lifts they pass between floors and floors of unknown wonder. Only those who work there are able to access these, via maintenance shafts and cable lifts and goodness knows how else. Blinking lights down long corridors and shadows darting around. I was not even given the opportunity to see the infamous corridor with 1,000 windows in it; at this point I am not convinced it exists- but who is to know, for there are many things we do not know about the Virtupets Space Station and my effort to shed light had resulted in a description of what everybody already knows. Thus concluding my article on Architecture of The Virtupets Space Station.