DUNE CITIES: Fiction or Reality? 

A minor lore correction. The events in Dune doesn’t take place ten thousand years into the future, it takes place ten thousand years after the Butlarian Jihad, when humanity revolted against thinking machines, which it self happens at least ten thousand years in the future from us. Therefore, the events in Dune takes place at least twenty thousand years in to the future.

Dune really was such a unique experience, it felt like a whole different universe in the most authentic way. The architecture is fascinating, love this part of Architecture RU-vid

As an architect, environmentalists, and major Dune fan, I really appreciate your study on this. I look forward to diving into your channel!

Great video! I'm actually the artist who made that thumbnail image that you use for this video and also worked on the layout concept of Arrakeen city and some key building designs for the film. In the film, the Arrakeen city is mostly covered by buildings exteriors to block the sun exposure and sand so majority of activity is happening inside of those exterior structures and all connected via tunnels (You can see it in the scene where Idaho escape scene).

Dennis Villeneuve's vision for dune is astounding. It's safe to say he is his generation's sci-fi goat

As a Brazilian citzen I am really interested on the topic of "Brazilian Brutalism" mentioned in the video, I would be really happy to hear more on that topic in the channel.

Never thought that I could find architecture so interesting and exciting until I found this channel. Thanks DamiLee!

love anything dune related. note: arrakis does have a lot of water. as you said, the fremen were concealing it for a long time, but also the life cycle of the worm absolutely needs water (even if it "kills" them), so it was just not easily accessible or visible even if it still existed in things like aquifers rather than rain. sand trout and baby makers being the key to the "water of life" & such (even if it is also poison)

I think the book mentions the use of lasguns to carve out the structures used by the Fremen. That would explain the rounded corners and rough surfaces depicted inside the Sietches

"I just love how the rest of the world thinks of Canada." You were quoting Patrice Vermette, the CANADIAN production designer on Dune who is from Quebec. Denis Villeneuve, the director, is also from Quebec. So... it's not how the rest of the world thinks of Canada. It's how Canadians, specifically a couple of Quebecers, view Canada.

This video is excellent! As an aside, the book called "The Dune Encyclopedia” is not officially canonical, but is filled with a prodigious amount of fascinating information. It reveals that the Fremen utilize highly durable tarpaulins, which they hang to protect certain rock faces -- and then they sandblast the unprotected surroundings or allow storms to erode them, ensuring the area behind the protection remains unaffected. The Encyclopedia also notes that in the polar regions, some Fremen cultivate plants that harbor insects secreting a varnish. This varnish is sold to other Fremen in various locations, who then apply it as a thick paste to preserve stone surfaces they wish to protect from erosion. Frank Herbert had verbally agreed with his friend, Willis MacNeally, that MacNeally would oversee compilation of The Dune Encyclopedia. Following this, Herbert planned to approve the Encyclopedia and compensate MacNeally with a substantial sum of money. Furthermore, most or all of MacNeally’s book was intended to become an official part of the Dune universe. Regrettably, before this could materialize, Frank Herbert passed away and his sons reneged on the agreement to pay MacNeally. The agreement was never formalized in writing, leaving MacNeally without legal recourse despite the book’s publication. It is a situation that I find absolutely outrageous. The concept of the planet Vulcan (T'Khasi) was, at a minimum, influenced by the notion of the planet Arrakis. Of Diane Duane's Star Trek novels, "Spock's World," mentions Vulcan megastructures constructed by eliminating all negative volume, including Pelasht -- which is described as supermassive castle-like fortification carved out from an entire mountain. So far as I know, this concept doesn't have any exact real-life counterpart. But it did remind me of Petra, which I appreciate that you mentioned. The Vulcan megastructures also reminded me of Lalibela, the tunnels of Củ Chi, and the subterreanean fortifications at Mount Suribachi. The name of the mountain comes from its shape. In Japanese, the name means a pestle for grinding medicines.

I am always fascinated by architecture, and I think we should appreciate those writers , animators, and artists who come up with these amazing architectural concepts.

I think concrete was called plascrete in the books so it sounded like a modified or artificial concrete. Also, I think people in Chile use wind traps very effectively.

I am close to and visit the dunes in Florence often. It is known by the locals to be a trove of rare psilocybin mushrooms found on the Pacific coast. The most potent in the world, P Azurescens and other psilocybes grow in abundance. The Azurescens mushroom is so potent that it's no wonder it found itself inspiring a writer with such a captivating and detailed story. Thank you for sharing this video, an excellent watch.

I found Dune's architecture super fascinating because of its brutalist influences. The dorm I live in on campus is designed by Louis Kahn so I'm surrounded by brutalist architecture. It's exceedingly cool.

I'm running an RPG set in Arrakeen and this info has been EXTREMELY helpful in allowing me to visualize what daily living in the city feels like. Thank you so much!

Architecture was very important in the books! Especially the interior architecture of room. Throne rooms have been designed to create optical illusions so that the person at the Thorne feels imposing, important, and huge in size and to make the person walking in feel small. In many scenes private rooms are also described as having walls with special angles so that the acoustics focus in one corner at the ceiling for example where someone can then listen in on conversations.

Reading Dune as a teenager is what got me interested in ecology and how to adapt to harsh environments!

You nerd out on science fiction. You nerd out on science fact. You somehow manage to intertwine your video between the two... and keep it nerdy but entertaining. Sold! Thanks, I'll be looking for more. Very entertaining.

I find it entertaining that an architecture professional covers movies, we need more of this please and thank you for your efforts.

Architecture, SciFi and Dami Lee. What an unexpected and delightful and unexpected mix. Thank you.

The Dune universe has been part of my inner world since I was a teenager. Love hearing you connect the current real world architecture and function to how Herbert's universe adapted to such extreme climates. The last movie captured the feeling of those worlds so brilliantly!

FYI it took Frank Herbert 19 publishers till one agreed to publish this amazing science fiction book

Damilee you are so good at telling a story in a captivating way. Very enjoyable. The architecture and technology in Dune is very fascinating.

Dennis Villeneuve's vision for Dune is just outstanding. Everything just aesthetically make sense

On the sand-concrete problem, there are also ways to make waterless concrete using sulphur as a stand-in. It's not quite a 1:1 stand in for proper concrete but it could also be a viable option on a dry world like Arrakis.

The way you break things down in a teachable way is amazing! and we all thank you for it! Great Job, Girl!

That's why I love your channel - so much nerding out in such wide subjects :D

Dune's architecture is absolute a style I'd love to reference if I ever build my own home or have an apartment designed. It's so sick

you are doing an amazing job!!!! every episode you do is so multi leveled and so connective to so many other aspects. you deliver more in a a few minutes than any documentary for the time frame you use!!! you are the future!!! ps. i am a 60 year old man saying this...lol

I never expected to be so drawn in to an architecture channel, but I am really enjoying your content! Dune is one of my favorite books and the recent movie is visually amazing. Your video was great!

I love your videos just enough science with the architecture side of the house and just enough science-fiction with the movie reviews. Very well done

Just a coment, the Dune novel it's not in the year 10.000, but in about the year 20.000. They say year 10.000th after the Guilda, when the humanity discovered how to fold space to long distant travels.

I read the Dune series last year and was trying to explain to my friends how absolutely amazing it was and how it feel both futuristic and historic both familiar and alien and I think it’s crazy that it was written in like what 1958 into the 60s and is STILL able to enrapture audiences today. I love Dune and have no one to talk about it with and it’s so sad!

I really enjoy the multiple excellent short vids you offer from one longer vid. It's fun to see the sections all together when i finally have time to watch the full.

Thank you for this deep dive, I love it! I am a major fan of Dune, and this is one reason why. Too often even in fantastical fiction, I feel like the environment is treated as a decorated shed in which to place the drama, rather than a living world, shaped by and shaping the actions of the people who live there. Frank Herbert did an amazing job with this, and I feel like Villeneuve and the whole production team honored the vision. Thank you for exploring this.

It’s minds like yours that work to solve future issues/problems. Well done video.

Minor lore: Arakis was a desert when humans discovered it so the buildings couldn't have been built in the time when the planet was lush. Great video. You characterized the Fremen well. They have adapted so well to the desert that they are inseparable from it. One scene in the book I always remember is when a Fremen thinks Paul is messing with them when he describes an ocean lol.

Love your videos ! Been in Construction for years in various trades and kick myself for not paying attention to detail. Watching your videos I actually learn . You provide such amazing information. As for Dune never got into until I got a bit older now I find it so realtable and insightful especially in today's world.

I learned a lot today thanks to this video!!! I love the wind traps integrated into the structure of buildings. Thank you for another great video!!! Love this channel.

1:13 The year 10 000 is not based on the AD calendar. It's 10 000 years since the navigator's guild has been established and took full control of space travel. In the AD calendar (Our calendar) the story takes place closer to the year 26 000

Oh no, I'm starting to get used to watching high quality video production. Your video just so mesmerizing. Gonna be hard to enjoy youtube, since not many that has this kind of quality

This is such a fascinating video on so many levels and I wholeheartedly love the final message.

Glad I stumbled upon this channel. Fantastic content. the blend of sci-fi, architecture and history is not something I would have expected.

So nice to see you talking about dune, we know I lot about the culture and people and politics of dune, but factors such as the architecture aren’t as fleshed out. So one thing that I loved about the movie is because it showed architecture on caladan, geidi prime and arrakis

Damn i love these episodes, i love the perspectives of an actual architect when it comes to SciFi. Like, it gives those SciFi settings another dimension that isn't immediately apparent

Dami, really enjoy and appreciate your discussion points, architectural centric perspective, enviromental awareness and human personality. Thank you

Excellent video, guys! This one was really well put together and I love all the tie ins from the movie and real world examples. I also think the angle on running out of sand is a great point to drive home. We tend to think that just because something is tech-related that it automatically means it won't drain the Earth of resources, and silica sand is extremely important to electronic hardware, so more and more computers will do essentially the same thing gas guzzling vehicles will do just in a different way. Very good angles to think about all around in this video. Nice work.

The scary shiny glasses @3:43 have me shook! The production of your videos just keeps skyrocketing. The attention to detail is staggering.

I'm a lifelong Dune fan and the architectural designer's perspective is one that I hadn't seen the series from, so thank you very much, it was fascinating!

I have seen many of your videos and I always love how much thought and research goes into knowing the settings and worlds of the games and movies you comment on!

Fantastic video. I want to particularly compliment you and your editor (if you have one) on your transitions and music choices. The editing and visuals were beautiful. I also loved your message about seeking out local knowledge before attempting to solve a complex problem in a new environment.

I recall a show over two decades ago, which I never forgot, on most durable structures on Earth for weather and a termite mound was seen as possibly the best.

Love you covering architecture in Science fiction, Dami 😎🌌

This video has amazing production value and content. Thanks for the upload.

You are such an articulate story teller! Love your videos!

Good informational break down. Dune is a visual amazing movie, but it’s hard to capture the whole essence of the series in a movie. It would be better as a TV series like the Expanse, but that would be extremely expensive like GOT.

Dune always has been one of my favourites, nice to see your views on this

Just found your channel with this video and I am HOOKED.

I stumbled upon this video and your breakdown of the science behind this fictional universe is very educational and honestly such a rewarding watch! Thank you for all your effort in the video and I am looking forward to watching more of your videos!

You have enlarged my world. I love how you take fiction and compare it to the real world. Great job.

The wind capture architecture and Brazilian Brutalism are very interesting. Would love to see videos on those topics more in-depth 🤔

I live in the Eugene/Springfield area in Oregon, so Florence is a short drive away. I’ve always thought it was such a unique and beautiful place so I think it’s very cool that it inspired such an iconic series

Sand isn’t biodegradable, it’s largely if not entirely inorganic

This by far has to be my favorite analysis you have put together. I’m a massive fan of the Dune universe. Thank you for this!

Dune also harks back to T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)'s book about living with the Arabian tribes during World War 1. Lots of cross over, especially on issues of tribal organisation and tribal life, military tactics, and a host of others. Well worth a read if you have the time.

I would like some amazing analysis like this for other movies or universes (books, video games), especially science-fiction ones. It's interesting, filled with lore, real or imaginary, really a pleasure to discover. And I enjoy your calm voice and tone, it helps the concentration.

Dami...well done on the brilliant and informative breakdown of Dune Architecture and culture that learned to live sustainably in a harsh climate and environment. The compariosins berween Dune and our reality provided great insight. There are so many lessons in this. So thank you, Dami, you are a wonderful storyteller and architect/ educator. ❤

Awesome video on one of the most fascinating topics! One minor correction: it's the outworlders that come to Arrakis for spice. Fremen descent from Zensunni who settled on the planet because of its harsh conditions: to free from anything that is not strictly required for survival, which in their eyes meant to be closer to God.

The Dune books are absolutely phenomenal, i highly recommend them to anyone who hasn't read them

I dont even know or care about Dune, but you found a great way to get me interested in what you had to say. Great scripting! Many CCs could learn from you

Wonderful video. Dune is my favorite book series. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this universe.

I really appreciate that your uploads always have proper subtitles enabled! It really helps. That said, this video is a good example of a time when the subtitles have a lot of errors, not just with some of the fictional words but also a lot of words that directly affect a reader's ability to understand the content ("wooden traps" instead of "wind traps", things like that). Wanted to make sure your team knows, and I hope those can start getting checked a little more closely :) Thank you for all your hard work and amazing content!

Capricho Árabe by Francisco Tarrega playing at around 14:00 is just amazing it never stops amazing me the quality production of your videos. Everything is always so well said and displayed it’s the same feeling as falling in love

What have I stumbled upon!? Woooow I can't wait to dive into the the rest of your content. This was so refreshing. I love how you have considered these nuances. Simple, yet very effective.

WoW!! Thank you so much! You are one of the finest presenters I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Made my love for Dune "level up".

I really like your take and content on architecture. Dune is my favorite sotry of all times, and then you talked and showed images from Salvador, Brazil where I'm from. Its just the feeling that this whole vid was made for me hauahsuaha 💛 thanks for this

I re-watched the movie in Netflix recently but now am gonna watch again with your insights. I went to Petra few years ago but didn’t connect it with Dune until you said it. Thank you so so much to you and your team for your brilliant videos. I feel the joy of this planet more after watching trying to see the nuance and history behind architecture.

Thank you for this wonderfully intelligent exposition. I love the contemporary information that you weave into your exclamations of the dune world. You are wonderful.

Great coverage of Dune's lore! I appreciated how much you care about the setting. Bonus points for showing Geisel Library, my alma mater! I spent many late nights in that UFO.

Great video, I think that dune is actually quite special since most sci-fi movies don’t really think about architecture all that much

Please do more sci-fi/cyberpunk videos! The editing, music and the narration is perfect

My first vid and I instant subscribed. Excellent analysis and weaving of history and technology with a clear and detailed understanding of the world. Bravo

Can’t believe I haven’t found this channel before! Wonderful video. Thank you so much

Can you please speculate on what the future of apartment living will look like through the lens of science fiction? I truly value your expertise and input as an architect and pop-culture critic; and would LOVE if you’d investigate the future of densification, co-living & micro-apartments. 🙌🏿🙏🏿🙌🏿

3:31 I love your Anima take

The ships are so big and the spice is so valuable that importing lakes of water is not out of the question.

Your videos never cease to amaze me , my interest in architecture has peaked thanks to your interesting videos

Love Dune and love your channel and topic. You entertain and educate me. (Much gratitude!) Given Dune's nature as a cautionary tale: being careful and vigilant in differentiating intellectually stimulating narrative from objective reality seems like something our species benefits from and sometimes gets wrong. I appreciate the care and grace you demonstrate in navigating that delicate line. May the spice continue to flow for you and your team.

this was so good thank you! dune is my favorite book

I've figured it out, you don't make videos about sci-fi or architecture, you make videos about how we can incorporate science fiction into our actual lives

A fantastic vid that is brimming with important knowledge... This retired uni prof is very impressed; thanx!

Kull Wahad! This video is soooo good! Entertaining, thought out, well spoken, deeply researched and right on point! How the hell has the YT algorithm hidden your channel from me for this long!? Instant sub! Thank you!

What an awesome video. Lots of inspiring tangents and information!

I had to think of the “fog catching” in Peru when I saw the nets in the movie. It’s quite interesting how it’s done in real life

Great video as always. Your analysis of these environments are very informative.

Awesome video. Would love more like this.

A note on how concrete requires water. This is true, but there does not need to be a lot of water. Particularly if you have the ability to compress it, you can get away with using rather little in proportion to the other materials. It would therefore be much more efficient to ship in the smaller amount of water needed than to bring in prefab components. It would also explain why it looks more decorative than typical concrete since the compression technique basically means you're making gigantic tiles.

I love this breakdown. I just watched the movies recently and haven't read any of the books so this is a nice fill in the blank. I also love the environmental questions and approach. Something to ponder. Overall. Very cool.

love your content!, i just recently found u and it blows my mind the approach of every subject you speak of. keep the good work!