Vvardenfell Architectural Styles Vvardenfell Architectural Styles describes all the different types of buildings and constructions , that can be found during the events of on Vvardenfell , the island located in the middle of Tamriel ' s province of Morrowind . Background . Many different cultures meet in Vvardenfell , the native Dunmer , the Imperial s , the Nords and many more brought very different styles of habitats , temples and functional buildings , as can be observed throughout the island . This also includes ancient Daedric ruins , Dwemer citadels , nomad camps , Redoran towns , Imperial towns , the strikingly unique mushroom towers of the Telvanni wizards and the capital of Vvardenfell , Vivec City . Dunmer settlements . Vivec City . Vivec City presents a unique panorama of high Dunmer architectural style . Grand multi - tiered cantons are arranged along canals . The cantons have monumental pyramid - like architecture , many bridges connects them . Large buttresses run from the waterline to the roofs . High bridges also lead across the canals , connecting temples and plazas found at the top of the cantons . The whole city , a Dunmer - made island , advances in the Inner Sea , where Vivec ' s Palace and the Archcanon ' s High Fane can be seen . Great Houses . The three Dunmer great houses that have settled Vvardenfell have distinctive architectures and lifestyles . House Redoran . The aristocratic Great House Redoran favors a spacious , organic building style , often resembling the shells of very large insects as seen in Ald ' ruhn , they are located generally in the central and north - western regions of Vvardenfell . House Hlaalu . Great House Hlaalu , a mercantile power , influenced by Imperial culture , prefers plain , modern habitats , usually located in the south - western regions , as can be seen in Balmora . House Telvanni . The Telvanni sorcerer lords live in their wizard towers that dominate mushroom hut villages . These are usually found on the eastern side of Vvardenfell , on the Azura ' s Coast , as can be seen in Sadrith Mora or Tel Fyr . Temples and manors . The main religion in vvardenfell is the Tribunal Temple , which has its headquarters in mainland Morrowind and in Vivec city , is represented in most towns by a temple . These temple compounds feature high walled outer courtyards and halls clustered around the Temple shrine as can be seen in Vos . Compounds and residences in the plantations of the Great Houses are similar to the temple compounds with walled outer courts and buildings for craftsmen and servants , dominated by a grand manor residence as can be seen in the Dren Plantation . In the plantations , the manor houses serves as central feature . Dunmer towns . The Dunmer villages are common in Vvardenfell ' s regions . As can be seen in Gnisis , huts are built of local materials , that must resist the harsh weather conditions of the island . Having organic curves inspired by the shells of giant native insects , like the Silt Strider or in the case of the Redoran headquarters , Ald ' ruhn - under - Skar , which is built inside an ancient giant crab shell . Villages are usually dominated by temple compounds and courtyards . Imperial towns and castles . Towns . Imperial style of buildings in their settlements is usually simple , sturdy buildings made of stone bricks , with Thatch roofs . Houses , shops , and tradehouses are of timbered , half timbered construction in the Western manner , with right angles and flat planes , and plain , undecorated exteriors , as can be seen in Caldera or Pelagiad . Fortified Castles . The imperial castles , guard towers and fortifications are often on higher grounds and are made of large plain stonewalls , with tall towers as can be seen in Ebonheart or Tel Vos . Dwemer Ruins . The Dwemer ' s abandoned citadels dot the landscape of Vvardenfell . Only certain sections of the building are apparent above ground . Often bridges and many walls lie in ruin scattered around the rest of the building . Pipes run in every directions along the walls , that are decorated with lines of carved Daedric letters . Giant cogs , mechanical apparatus and mechanisms are an integral part of these citadel ' s architecture . The walls are made of a bronze - like metal and large carved stones . Most doors are round and small , they are often composed of long winding corridors , halls and domed rooms as can be seen in Nchardahrk or Mzuleft . Daedric shrines . Daedric shrines are strangely named and shaped buildings that can be found across the Dunmer Island , few dare venture close to them . The outside sections are often lying in ruins . the shrines are made of blocks of dark grey and black rocks . Completely covered in unusual decorative carvings . They usually have one tilted oval door that leads into dark corridors , and large halls . In the center of these ruins , often lies a large statue of one of the Daedric princes . All walls are , also , black and covered in strange carvings , with irregular jagged shapes protruding dangerously in any directions as can be seen in Assurnabitashpi or Onnissiralis . Some are offshore , sunken or half - sunken at the bottom of the sea . Ashlanders . the Ashlanders , the ancient tribal Dunmer people , who still live as nomads , in their yurts . Theses simple round large tents , that are made of darkened beast skins and fabric , usually , house each ashlander in their own yurt , some of the larger ones are shared . The inside is decorated with hanging carpets and decorative shields , there are colorful lamps illuminating the room . A fire usually lies in the center of the yurt , surrounded by bedrolls as can be seen in the Erabenimsun Camp or the Urshilaku Camp .