Welcome to the Gunji Estate!

Features:
A colorful herb garden
A charming greenhouse
An aging gazebo
Flower gardens
A full kitchen with a smoky wood-fired oven
A grand library and office
Spacious attic
Private lab in the master bedroom
An airship

The inspiration:
I love the French countryside homes of the 17th and 18th centuries, and the works of Studio Ghibli. This house was created based on the architectural styling of both.
From the start I knew I wanted to create something with a large scale, but not with an overpowering frame. I also knew that I wanted the house to have a greenhouse attached to it, as it's a great way to combine the natural and man-made world.

At the beginning I set forth a few conditions for the build. The first, that it fit the theme. I wanted to create something that could be realistically imagined as being behind a white picket fence but at the same time stimulates the imagination. The second requirement was that the terrain not be completely flat. This one is an obvious. Flat terrain is boring. The final requirement was that the home use ample block variety, which I believe was successful.

After 2 or 3 failed attempts I created the frame for this house. The initial version had 3 block high ceilings and solid block walls, and felt artificial. It also lacked the tower that defines the current version of the structure. After several days of working around this 3 block nightmare I decided to make the ceilings at least 4 blocks high at any point of the house. After that I decided the house itself should be risen.

Rolling with the concept of a low-set house that feels like it's grasping for the sky, I decided I should add a tower. The bedroom, originally where the library now is, was moved to the top of this tower.

Once this superstructure was done I had to deal with the interior. I decided to model it off of my love for books and science. There is a loft style lab in the tower and books all over the house. The interior was also designed to feel quite dated to accent the initial theme concept of a French home from the 18th century.

As a final touch, I decided to create a platform coming out of the tower and an airship. A dedication to a good friend of mine. He always sought new heights but never forgot his past.

Afterword:
The home and estate are best experienced on foot! After all, the architecture of the past was centered around functioning in everyday life! If you enjoyed seeing this home please consider leaving a diamond as it would help me greatly.
Cheers!