The Grünau-Trainstation is the result of the 3d technics course by Jan Berger at HTW Berlin.
As exam, our task was simply to select one of Berlins subway or trainstations to recreate it in 3d space with the Unity game engine
3 Weeks
Winter 2019/2020 - 3rd Semester
PC
Solo Developed
Prof. Jan Berger
DE:HIVE @HTW Berlin
For this study, I chose the Grünau-Trainstation due to the fact it was near my apartment location and therefore was very easy to reach. It halso happen to be a much greater challenge for us as we were strictly instructed to avoid outdoor scenes and focus on the subway network. I personally asked Jan Berger if it was still a valid option and he aggreed as far as the scene won't be just the trainstation itself.
It had to feel immersive. That you feel like at a real place or like in a game. For outdoor vegetation we were allowed to use third party assets. Everything regarding the station had to be done completly by ourselfes.
The first step was to observe and shoot dozens of pictures, measure typical objects like signs, benches or the ticket machine and get an overall feel of proportions and structure.
Google maps was also a good way to get a rough idea of the entire size of the station as well.
Then I started the blockout and made the ground pieces first and worked my way forward towards the smaller pieces that make out the station.
Since I only started 3 weeks before the deadline due to other far more important exams and the main project of the semester, I got quit crunchy but it was a lot of fun just focusing on modelling and texturing only for once.
It also gave me the opportunity to try out some different technics for texturing and hiding unwanted mistakes that happened during the process which I normally had to redo over and over again.
The first step was to observe and shoot dozens of pictures, measure typical objects like signs, benches or the ticket machine and get an overall feel of proportions and structure.
Google maps was also a good way to get a rough idea of the entire size of the station as well.
Then I started the blockout and made the ground pieces first and worked my way forward towards the smaller pieces that make out the station.
Since I only started 3 weeks before the deadline due to other far more important exams and the main project of the semester, I got quit crunchy but it was a lot of fun just focusing on modelling and texturing only for once.
It also gave me the opportunity to try out some different technics for texturing and hiding unwanted mistakes that happened during the process which I normally had to redo over and over again.
In agreement with my professor, I did not convert the real trainstation one to one into a 3d scene. Instead I was encouraged to add my own touch of atmosphere and setting on to it as well.
So the idea I had in mind was a more surreal arrival. Like a passenger would arrive deep in the middle of the night at a lost but functional place. At that time, I really got into the Silent Hill series and since Im a huge horror fan, I put in several easter eggs into textures, models and the scene as well.
If I had more time to work on this project, I probably would have created something like a dissolving texture blend effect for all objects and switch towards a nightmare area like the alternative world in Silent Hill. Unfortunatly it wasn't possible for me with the short time left. However I promised me, to revisit this idea when I get the chance again.