Style Stuff

Background

Here are some reference pictures along with descriptions of why they were selected.  These descriptions aren't the rule for the film, they just express the vision as it currently stands:

Curves, arches, spirals, and circles!  This has the very round, rich feeling we want.

 Paris - Warm, elegant lighting.  

Lyon, France - Elegance in the architecture.  The buildings have a very vertical nature.  However, it feels a little too sterile (gray) and rigid (strong rectangles in masonry)...I'm exaggerating to get the point across.

Italy - The warm colors of the plaster.  Arches again.  Spirals and curves in wrought iron.  Captures a little more of the small-town, home-y feeling.  This is a smaller, cozier part of a larger, elegant city.

Italy - Arches, warm colors, coziness, more intimate space.  Richness added by growing vines.  Maybe a little too busy with all the bricks.

Morocco - Elegance of Paris, warmth of Italy (maybe its just the lighting?)  I like some of the baroque qualities of the balconies.

Paris - Elegant, but also has a tucked-away feel.  Possibly some potential with Art Nouveau, with its sophisticated, organic curves.

Italy - Richness, warm colors (maybe too yellow).  I like the shutters

Italy - Arches, wrought iron, curves, warm colors, string course, tucked away...Just some of my favorite things.  And those are rad trees.  

Somewhere - small street flanked by tall buildings.

Portugal - Cleanliness of France (I hear it's not, but it gives that vibe), but more of the warmth of Italy.  Lots of Italy tends to look Medieval and dirty (that we don't want).

Portugal - Curves of Italy (arches), feels brighter and happier.

Small street with walking space/table space.  Hills are cool.

(Portugal)

Cozy, tight, intimate. 

Contrasted against...

Open spaces.  Playing with space can add texture to the environment.

(Portugal)

Some summarization (spell checker informs me I just made a new word):

 Elegance and the  vertical nature of France/Paris, mixed with the warmth, richness, and curves of Italy gives us some of the feel we want.  Perhaps the bottom level is more Italian, particularly the restaurant, while the upper levels of our imagined city are more Parisian.  

Portugal and Morocco each capture interesting elements of the former two countries, but beware the tourist-y feeling.  The characters live here and are not on a cruise.