Mos Eisley Spaceport
General Preface
When George Lucas created Star Wars, he wanted his universe to feel "lived in" – opposing the futuristic “clean slate” aesthetic of other sci-fi locales. Through Lucas’ attempt at realism, we are gifted a smattering of community-based case studies strewn across the Star Wars galaxy - a handful of which we will explore using the book Star Wars: Complete Locations.
Today we speed through Tatooine’s infamous spaceport of Mos Eisley while taking note of its features.
Roads and Arterials
The arterial or “street network” of Mos Eisley maintains a size hierarchy similar to Earthen cities. The largest streets like Corporations Road cater to fast vehicular traffic (in this case, land speeders); while, narrower streets like Spacers Row – still accommodating to land speeders – harbor slower locomotion in the form of ronto pack-beasts and pedestrians. Narrower still are alleyways that are nearly exclusive to pedestrian traffic – imperial spies, smugglers, and jedi among them. The streets themselves are not carved into the city in a preconceived manner but are, instead, sandy voids molded into being by the surrounding buildings - as if their existence is by happenstance.
Architectural Quirks
The predominance of sand - the material composing most buildings - is very much “of the land” and the surrounding desert. Occasionally, a metallic building – perhaps aluminum, tin, or steel – serves as an architectural outlier. These metallic outliers, along with the omni-aged tones of sandy buildings, hint at a lineage of architectural eras. Most buildings – some circular and some rectilinear – are topped with domes of varying proportions. It’s these domes which add to Mos Eisley’s iconic sense of place.
Docking Bay Placement
Uncannily, every “block” within Mos Eisley, is equipped with one to three docking bays – resembling, in some ways, a village green but serving more as a parking lot or transportation hub. The docking bays are radial in design and, as inherent voids, contrast well with the protruding radial domes which dot the cityscape.
The People
Jaywalkers and goons abound. Short-statured Jawas, a species native to Tatooine, are seen roaming around mischievously in their hooded cloaks. Humans also make an appearance, though they are far from the majority. This “hive of scum and villainy” is a melting pot for alien cultures across the galaxy – a pot in which many get burned. Just ask one Rodian.
Other Features
The Ubrikkian Trade Tower mimics the prominence of London’s Big Ben or Utrecht’s Dom Tower - standing taller than all else. Near the tower is a flea market of makeshift stalls primed for casual commerce. An arena is also present within the spaceport along with a water distribution plant, general store, junkyard, and monastery. Not unlike Nashville’s Broadway or downtown Pensacola, various cantinas are strewn along the main strip as a wetter for galactic whistles.
What We Can Learn
Mos Eisley’s incorporation of “negative” space, or the voids created by the surrounding buildings, into a street network is quite ingenious. While, generally, the centerlines of streets require planning to ensure a continuous way of passage, this example shows that the street edges needn’t be as delineated. The seemingly haphazard interface between Mos Eisley’s buildings and its streets is actually, in many ways, much more seamless (and inviting) than the organized frontages of Earthen cities. Mos Eisley’s “haphazardness” also results in makeshift plazas between buildings that feel as if they’re public domain. In fact, the entire city feels like public domain aside from the occasional private courtyard and dwelling. In addition, a singular material of compacted sand along the ground plane, while simple, ties the entirety of Mos Eisley together without becoming old on the eye. Perhaps it's the use of bold form and intricate pattern that gives the sole material a certain variety.
References:
Film: Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars: Complete Locations (illustrated by Jenssen & Chasemore). Lucas Books. DK. (2005)
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