Words: Justin Stengel, MASONRY Magazine
Photos: Camrocker, 400tmax, Paulafrench, MoMorad,, merlinpf, Joaquin Ossorio-Castillo, Rainbow79, GarySandyWales
There will always be a desire for familiarity in entertainment and cinema; the thrill of seeing a structure you’ve visited or studied will never fade. Many might not even realize what they see in the media is also in real life. This article highlights some of the most well-known structures in the media today.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)
A large part of this popular gaming franchise is known for the iconic playable maps within the game, one of those maps being The J. Paul Getty Museum. Built and designed in 1997 by architect Richard Meier, The Getty Museum is seen as one of the greatest art museums in the world today. The Getty Museum has everything an art enthusiast may be looking for, from European paintings and drawings to manuscripts that date back centuries.
The Bear (2022)
This award-winning show takes place in Chicago with the backdrop of the famous restaurant Mr. Beef. Known for its Italian Beef sandwiches, Mr. Beef has recently become a Chicago Staple thanks to The Bear. Founded in 1979 by Joseph Zucchero in River North, Chicago, the restaurant’s faded red brick architecture helps give off the classic and nostalgic feeling embedded within the company.
Game of Thrones (2011)
George R. R. Martin had quite the vision when he wrote the world-renowned series Game of Thrones. Set in medieval times, the show uses the historic Castle Ward and Dunluce Castle as its foreground. Built around 1590 by Nicolas Ward, Castle Ward became home to the Ward family, a wealthy Irish family with years of history. The main portion of Castle Ward still stands today, while many of the surrounding buildings have been demolished and rebuilt around the 18th century. Dunluce Castle, built by Richard Óg de Burgh in the 13th century, is used as the ”House of the Greyjoy” in the thrilling show. In real life, the castle has seen many battles and has hosted many people in its long life.
Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
The Marvel Universe is seemingly notorious for its visuals and set designs. In the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron, the backdrop for a majority of the movie sets upon Dover Castle in Dover, England. Founded in the 11th century, it has been described by many as the “Key to England” because of its significance in defense throughout history. It has withstood the test of time and even the devastation of wars, even being used as a sort of shelter for the British during World War II.
- Castle Hill Rd., Dover CT16 1HU, United Kingdom
