As we gather with family and friends this holiday season, we might find ourselves baking cookies and watching Christmas movies. This may be a tradition for some of us - watching our favorite movies every year to ring in the holiday spirit. But have you ever taken a moment to observe the architecture in these films? From the Polar Express that ends in North Pole Square, to Klaus set on the Scandanavian island of Smeerensburg, to the Grinch Who Stole Christmas set in Dr. Suess’s Whoville. What built examples of architecture resemble these make-believe villages?

In the Polar Express, a magical train makes its way to North Pole, enduring adventures along the way. In the last scene, it arrives in North Pole Square where everyone awaits Santa’s visit. A few aerial shots of the scene show a gracefully curved square very similar to Plaza de España in Sevilla, Spain. 

Built in 1928, the large half-circle was influenced by the Spanish Renaissance Revival, Spanish Baroque Revival, and Neo-Mudejar styles. When walking into the space, the display of grandiosity is powerful. In the movie, an enormous Christmas tree is placed in the center, still proportional to the size of the structure. As the star is fixed on top by agile elves, the crowd cheers. The architecture in this scene enhances the wonder the characters felt. 

The town of Smeerensburg, a fictional town located near Svalbard, is characterized by tall pointy roof’s, narrow budilng footprints, stong bridges, steep hills, and a town square. A caricature version of a classic Scandanavian Village.

Whoville is the infamous village created by Dr. Suess where the Grinch Who Stole Christmas takes place. The homes are characterized by round, organic shapes, a variety of colors, and stone. 

Gaudi, a Catalan architect, was a part of the Modernista movement, and designed buildings with inspiration from biophilia. Many of his works feel as though you are in some sort of real-life Whoville.

All photos are courtesy of the original owner. Links are included in the images.