Building My 3D Art Portfolio: Blog Post #8 - Haunted Hallway Environment White Box

Welcome back to my blog!

In my last post, I brainstormed a modular horror environment inspired by liminal spaces, ultimately deciding to design an abandoned school hallway. My primary goal for this modular design is to practice vertex painting to break up the repetition and add visual interest to the scene.

Locker With Adjusted Origin Point

Above is my "hero asset," which will be the centerpiece of the school hallway. I adjusted the pivot point to the door's hinges, allowing me to adjust the position of each door individually. This is a simple but effective way to break up the uniformity of the lockers.

Breaking up modularity with the same repeated asset

When placing assets, I constantly consider the narrative of the space. In an abandoned school, I imagine trespassers rummaging through lockers, leaving them open or ajar. Some might have even fallen off or been removed, and without any maintenance, rust would naturally set in over time.

Rectangular hallway with secondary forms

Next, I blocked out the hallway. I started with a long rectangular shape, then segmented it to add structural variety and incorporated doorways leading to classrooms. I’m planning to add details like scattered papers and dirt on the floor to make the space feel lived-in, but I’ll save those finishing touches for later in the process.

Ceiling Tile Inspiration

For the ceiling, I wanted to recreate the tiles common in American schools today. To lean into the "abandoned" vibe, I decided to leave some tiles out, exposing the pipes above. I think this will look even more convincing once I apply textures.

Ceiling Tiles, Revealing Pipes

Once I established these larger forms, I began filling in the white box. I hand-placed assets, referencing my mood board to ensure everything felt cohesive. To make the space feel more authentic, I grouped the lockers into "islands" and added functional elements like posters, benches, and water fountains in between.

White Box WIP

To start imagining lighting and enhance the eerie, haunted atmosphere, I’ve hidden the end of the hallway in darkness, punctuated only by the glow of an exit sign.

There are still plenty of ideas I want to explore, but seeing my vision come to life as a white box is incredibly exciting! I’ll get to texturing eventually, but for now, stay tuned for the next update in the process!