Design Pop! October 2026

What makes a house look haunted?

For centuries, architects have used dramatic building forms to create a sense of mystery, grandeur, and even fear. Many of the buildings we think of as “haunted houses” are inspired by architectural styles such as Gothic Revival and Victorian architecture. These buildings often feature steeply pitched roofs, towers, turrets, tall narrow windows, irregular floor plans, decorative trim, and dramatic entrances.

Rather than simply decorating a house to make it scary, students will think like architects and design a building where the architecture itself creates the feeling. They can experiment with unusual shapes, multiple levels, towers, crooked elements, dramatic roofs, windows, doors, and other architectural details.

A perfectly imperfect house doesn’t have to be straight, symmetrical, or polished. Its imperfections are what give it character.

Design Pop!
Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-Noon
The Center for Architecture and Design
Theme: The Great Spooky Build
Partner: Meyers + Associates

Design Pop! sessions are fun three-hour workshops (offered free of charge) held throughout the year, offering engaging activities for aspiring young designers in grades 3-8. Energetic volunteers from design firms in central Ohio lead each workshop.

Register Here