These architects promise to build a life-size replica of a city from Lord of the Rings — if you fork over $2.8 billion


A group of British architects have decided to put Lord of the Rings fandom to the test by crowdfunding a life-size replica of J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional city of Minas Tirith in the south of England. They've set a 60-day limit to raise £1.85 billion (about $2.82 billion in U.S. dollars), of which they've designated £15 million to land, £188 million to labor, and £1.4 billion to materials. Leftover money will go to maintenance and public services until 2053.
"We are an ambitious team of architects and structural engineers who are passionate about creating a beautiful, inspirational, and fully-functioning replica of Peter Jackson's depiction of Minas Tirith, as seen in his Lord of the Rings films," the campaign's leader, Jonathan Wilson, wrote on the project's IndieGoGo page. "We all share a love of Tolkien's work and a desire to challenge the common perception of community and architecture. We believe that, in realizing Minas Tirith, we can create not only the most remarkable tourist attraction on the planet, but also a wonderfully unique place to live and work."
Rewards include a £900 night for two in Minas Tirith or a £1.72 million four-bedroom penthouse.
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At time of publication, the "Realize Minas Tirith" project has raised a mere £1,624 of their £1.8 billion budget. There are 49 days left to contribute to making this dream come true.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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