Durmstrang Dock
Located on the southernmost tip of the main isle of Singapore, at the point closest to Sentosa, is the Singapore Cruise Centre. On the ground floor of the cruise centre would be a Universal Studios ticketing booth, where admission passes can be purchased or collected. Each pass comes with a cheque (for 11 Silver Sickles) bearing a Gringotts Wizarding Bank seal.
Along the entrances leading towards the quay where the cruise ships are moored, would stand a row of wooden revolving doors. On the left panel frame of each door would be an engraving bearing the letters and lines of a Gringotts cheque. Inserting the cheque (for 11 Silver Sickles) into the slot beneath the engraving allows one person to push through the doorway.
Beyond the wooden doorways would be a vast room, lined on every side with rows of long wooden benches and tables. Everything would have a rather utilitarian, almost military, air. New entrants would be directed to an unoccupied table manned by an uniformed quartermaster. While the quartermaster takes body measurements, uniformed aides would offer refreshments and note down names, as well as other personal particulars.
A military sash, embroidered with the quartermaster's emblem, would be draped round each visitor. After all preparations and arrangements have been completed, a uniformed aide would then lead them out of the room, onto the wooden boards of a covered wharf.
Located in the tropics, Singapore's climate is hot and humid all year round, with frequent heavy torrential downpours. Elements that would put a damper on enjoying a theme park. Therefore, all outdoor locations in the Wizarding world, like this pier, would be built based on the fundamentals of ventilation and shade, by maximising exposure to breezes and offering protection from the sun and rain.
With judicious use of structure orientation, wind catchers, fly-roofs, overhangs, elevated floors, reflective insulation, vents, clerestory windows, etc, naturally cool structures would be constructed. More modern, but still green, approaches to combat heat and humidity would also be utilised. Companies like Thermodyna have been working on household power plants that make electricity, heat and and cool the air on demand.
Employing just two motors, driven by the solar energy, the plants turn damp, warm air into a comfortably climatised temperature. Singapore would be the ideal place to test out such technologies, as air-conditioning takes up so much of our energy needs. Sentosa, with its need to cool and shade large outdoor attractions would be the perfect place to take up such a challenge.
Back on the wharf, visitors would pass under a signboard sporting the words “Drumstrang Dock”, before making their way towards the Gringotts Wizarding Bank branch, its stone exterior at such odds with the other dark wooden structures. After converting their Muggle money into wizarding currency at the bank, visitors would be drawn to either the Owl Post Office or the Newsstand. Dotted between the three establishments would be kiosks selling food and beverages unique to the wizarding world, but with a distinctly Russian taste.
With all the excitement, it would be easy to forget the initial stop at the supply outpost. That is, until the military sash lights up with a message. Embedded in every sash is a tiny receiver tuned to a unique frequency. When a newly tailored outfit is completed, a transmitter set to the corresponding frequency would be activated. The radio waves generated would wirelessly charge the battery connected to the paper-thin OLED that lights up, displaying the words, "Garment ready for collection".
At a quiet corner of the dock would be a counter with a signboard "Garment Collection" hung overhead. Surrendering the luminous sash over the counter yields a set of blood red robes and a military-styled hat with the Drumstrang coat-of-arms pinned on it, all cut and sewn to measure.
A medieval sailing ship, skeletal in built and flying the Durmstrang flag, would be docked alongside the pier. Emblazoned on the side of the ship would be the words, "Drumstrang Voyager".
Along the entrances leading towards the quay where the cruise ships are moored, would stand a row of wooden revolving doors. On the left panel frame of each door would be an engraving bearing the letters and lines of a Gringotts cheque. Inserting the cheque (for 11 Silver Sickles) into the slot beneath the engraving allows one person to push through the doorway.
Beyond the wooden doorways would be a vast room, lined on every side with rows of long wooden benches and tables. Everything would have a rather utilitarian, almost military, air. New entrants would be directed to an unoccupied table manned by an uniformed quartermaster. While the quartermaster takes body measurements, uniformed aides would offer refreshments and note down names, as well as other personal particulars.
A military sash, embroidered with the quartermaster's emblem, would be draped round each visitor. After all preparations and arrangements have been completed, a uniformed aide would then lead them out of the room, onto the wooden boards of a covered wharf.
Located in the tropics, Singapore's climate is hot and humid all year round, with frequent heavy torrential downpours. Elements that would put a damper on enjoying a theme park. Therefore, all outdoor locations in the Wizarding world, like this pier, would be built based on the fundamentals of ventilation and shade, by maximising exposure to breezes and offering protection from the sun and rain.
With judicious use of structure orientation, wind catchers, fly-roofs, overhangs, elevated floors, reflective insulation, vents, clerestory windows, etc, naturally cool structures would be constructed. More modern, but still green, approaches to combat heat and humidity would also be utilised. Companies like Thermodyna have been working on household power plants that make electricity, heat and and cool the air on demand.
Employing just two motors, driven by the solar energy, the plants turn damp, warm air into a comfortably climatised temperature. Singapore would be the ideal place to test out such technologies, as air-conditioning takes up so much of our energy needs. Sentosa, with its need to cool and shade large outdoor attractions would be the perfect place to take up such a challenge.
Back on the wharf, visitors would pass under a signboard sporting the words “Drumstrang Dock”, before making their way towards the Gringotts Wizarding Bank branch, its stone exterior at such odds with the other dark wooden structures. After converting their Muggle money into wizarding currency at the bank, visitors would be drawn to either the Owl Post Office or the Newsstand. Dotted between the three establishments would be kiosks selling food and beverages unique to the wizarding world, but with a distinctly Russian taste.
With all the excitement, it would be easy to forget the initial stop at the supply outpost. That is, until the military sash lights up with a message. Embedded in every sash is a tiny receiver tuned to a unique frequency. When a newly tailored outfit is completed, a transmitter set to the corresponding frequency would be activated. The radio waves generated would wirelessly charge the battery connected to the paper-thin OLED that lights up, displaying the words, "Garment ready for collection".
At a quiet corner of the dock would be a counter with a signboard "Garment Collection" hung overhead. Surrendering the luminous sash over the counter yields a set of blood red robes and a military-styled hat with the Drumstrang coat-of-arms pinned on it, all cut and sewn to measure.
A medieval sailing ship, skeletal in built and flying the Durmstrang flag, would be docked alongside the pier. Emblazoned on the side of the ship would be the words, "Drumstrang Voyager".