By Iria Chen
The prominent Korean Netflix series Squid Game has won standing ovations from people all around the world. Not only is its plot enticing, but the architectural design of different scenes is also under the spotlight. Spoiler alert!
The Staircase
The concept of the staircase is inspired by the M.C. Escher’s “Relativity” lithograph. The diverse staircases craft a tense atmosphere with numerous people walking in distinct directions in a confined environment. The saturated colours like yellow and pink add to the distorting effect. Geometry is prevalent in the design of this scene. The stairs are parallel which imposes a sense of continuation and despair.
The Waiting Lounge
The waiting lounge before Game 3 and 4 resembles Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center. The deprivation of colour results in an emptiness that creates apprehension and a sense of bleakness. This also provides an abnormal insecurity to the audience and participants.
The Playground
The playground in scene 2 is abnormally large compared to the playground in real life. The facilities are magnified and it is more suitable for adults to play. Metaphorically, the magnification of the playground diminishes the scale of the participants, depicting how the participants are being manipulated by the affluent.
The Alleyway / Marble Village
This traditional Korean alleyway is heavily tinted in sienna, which creates the sentiment of arriving home. This intimacy and warmth is in line with the partner choice, their dearest friend. The alleys compartmentalize space and allow the 2 participants to compete in an enclosed space, which intensifies their interaction.
Various choices in colour and form evoke terror in the audience and actors. The combination of architectural perspectives in the set design attributes to the overall success of “ Squid Game ”. We strongly encourage you to pay attention to the scenes and architectural designs in movies since a lot of them contribute to the hidden meaning of the story.
References: Squid Game from Netflix
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