I started this map in an attempt to break away from my usual comfort zoners. I was a fanatic with grids and would use that as the more often than I liked. Of course grids are nice, so long as they have a walkable block size and good transit options. Which brings me to my second issue--public transit' the American in me is used to a car being a main mode of transit. In reality, this mode of transit is expensive and unrealistic. Sharpton has an impressive subway and train system, as long as a an extensive freeway with elaborate interchanges. Sharpton also has a downtown grid, but outside of the downtown you can see more organic growth in terms of block and lot sizes. Sharpton has 2 sattelite cities which are conected by train and ferry options. Unfortunately, this project is discontinued due to mods breaking the save file.
The idea for Dunhall was to have a prominent and extensive rail network. I think trains are a nice way to bring people who may live in a town or neighborhood to the epicenter of a city. In my own experience, as a kid I would take a Metro-North train from Beacon, NY to Grand Central in NYC. That option is superior to the car, which would be a nightmare trying to find a parking spot in NYC and the inescapable traffic in the Bronx. The rail network of Dunhall connects all sattelite towns to the main station, and there is a metro network that connects neighborhoods of Dunhall to the main station. The main station is centrally located in the Downtown with frontage of a main square, which has entertainment and beaucratic function, as Dunhall acts as a regional capitol. The capitol building is opposite of station in the square. This building is an Art-Deco inspired Skyscraper that holds all legislative function for the state, and there is even office and commercial spaces for rent.
Athaea was a way for me to expel all the pent-up observations from studying abroad in Japan onto a blank canvas. I wanted to capture some aesthetics of Japan alongside their impressive networks of transit and implement it into a city. In Athea, there exists many islands to expand the overpopulated coastlines—similar to Koto City in Tokyo. One will find impressive transit networks with circular metro networks—similar to the Yamanote Line. Finally, dotted around the city are small and gorgeous temples with luscious gardens—like the Shinto and Buddhist shrines of Japan.
My own custom map
~150,000
January 2024
City is still in progress. Stay tuned