Since the Star Wars movie franchise debuted in 1977, it has had an unrivalled impact on popular culture for close to 50 years and its fandom spans generations. When the owner of this bungalow in Singapore asked for a mancave inspired by the movie, I was both excited and intimidated.

The room in mind was only 24 sqm, which was just one percent of the total land area of the home. But it had to deliver a full-on impact and cool factor for the owner who also wanted a space for him and his family to chill out, listen to music, watch movies, work and to display his Star Wars Lego models.

I based the design on one of the most recognisable ‘characters’ in the movie, the Millennium Falcon spaceship piloted by Hans Solo. In particular, I was inspired by the exterior of the embattled spaceship, with its frisbee-like shape and protrusions. I imagined someone sitting on the top of the Falcon looking at its underside. To provide the illusion of being the spaceship as it hurtled through space, I also designed round greenhouse-style windows that mimic those in the Falcon’s cockpit looking out to a pitch-black starlit space.

The components are proportionally and realistically recreated in 1/6 scale within the room’s tight footprint. This was based on a close study of modelmaker Joe Johnston’s Falcon from the 1977 movie to grasp its characteristics and concepts. The room had to be an incredible space that would make any Star Wars fan envious. Besides the wow factor, I also had to consider both the functional and technical details of the space.

To achieve the basic shape of the Falcon, the four-sided room became eight sided by taking in the corners. Two of them are now used to house the storage and audio-visual equipment, and the other two as the entrance, and study niche with display shelves. The floor was raised and the ceiling lowered to create a more intimate space. It also allowed for the accommodation of design elements as well as to conceal various functions. Every inch of space was milked to create the dynamic and exciting design. The wall panels feature a myriad of details, including three-dimensional installations inspired by the Falcon’s rear slot sub-light engines and cockpit windows. Display areas and a study niche were also set into the walls, with one window framing the homeowner’s large Millennium Falcon Lego model. In fact, the room sports 16 different vertical planes within its basic shape.

A huge amount of time was also devoted to ensure each element was accurate and proportionate. To meet the demands of the complex design, my contractor used sophisticated five-axis CNC machines to achieve precise measurements on medium-density fibreboard (MDF) for a high quality build. Even the pattern of the floor grates in the Falcon were faithfully recreated in the two perforated stainless steel steps that lead to the entrance of the room. Stepping in thus gives the sense of anticipation of entering another world.

One challenge was seamlessly integrating and concealing essential functions such as air-conditioning, audio visual systems and lighting. The design also had to be child-friendly. The central ducting system of the air-conditioning unit sits discreetly above the metal mesh of the false ceiling. When the air-conditioner is switched off, the fresh air duct and dehumidifier turns on automatically to prevent mould. For the audio visual system, I consulted specialists who installed a high-end surround sound stereo system with speakers concealed all around within the false walls and ceiling mesh. The film projector and a 110-inch motorised projector screen are both hidden within the ceiling and descend at the touch of a button.

Lighting effects were also paramount as the room is sealed off from natural light to create the illusion of being in space. The 12 programmed lighting settings are controlled through illuminated red, blue, white and green push buttons placed randomly within the space—their colours corresponding to the lighted colour scheme. This tactile and primitive control system provides a bit of interactive fun and adds to the experience of ‘commanding’ the Millennium Falcon. The starlight effect as seen through the round porthole-style windows was created with black paint and fibre optic lighting.

The illusion is completed by American artist Sean Dunston’s impressive custom paintwork covering almost all the surfaces. In the movies, the Falcon was referred to as a clunker, a second hand vessel that had seen better days. Duston references this with the distressed effects of his inspired paintwork—just one of many details that only a Star Wars enthusiast like himself could achieve.