Watch my next video on the Las Vegas Sphere right now! https://nebula.tv/videos/stewarthicks-the-orginal-las-vegas-sphere-fact-and-fiction Get Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/stewarthicks _Special Thanks_ Coproduced and edited by Evan Montgomery _Description_ Dive into the extraordinary world of simulated urban environments in our latest deep-dive video! We explore the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC), a sprawling 1400-acre site in Blackstone, Virginia, that serves as an urban simulation playground for federal agents. Witness the meticulous design by the renowned architecture firm Kieran Timberlake, known for their technically advanced and aesthetically striking projects, including the one billion dollar US Embassy in London. Discover how this "city" transcends mere facades, with buildings crafted from indestructible reinforced concrete and wired with cutting-edge technology, to withstand intense training scenarios. Yet, it's the philosophical underpinnings that steal the show. FASTC stands as a stark, surreal interpretation of urban life, a caricature mirroring the essence of a city while serving as a potent tool for strategic training. Join us as we delve into the broader landscape of fabricated urban spaces, from the hyper-realistic Playas Training and Research Center to the iconic Potemkin Villages. Uncover the multifaceted purposes of these ersatz metropolises, from military training grounds to testing hubs for futuristic technologies. Ponder the moral and psychological implications of these spaces, and how, through their uncanny mimicry, they offer profound insights into the nature of urban existence and human behavior. Get ready for a thought-provoking journey that challenges your perceptions of reality and illusion in the urban landscape. Subscribe, like, and share for more content that unravels the fascinating layers of our built environment! #Architecture #UrbanSimulation #MilitaryTraining #FakeCities #UrbanDesign #KieranTimberlake #TechnologyInArchitecture #UrbanPlanning #RealVsFake #PsychologyOfSpace #CityLab #SimulationCities #PropagandaCities #DecoyCities #UrbanDynamics _ Further Reading and Resources_ Kieran Timberlake: https://kierantimberlake.com/page/foreign-affairs-security-training-center Awesome book about military and the city: https://www.amazon.com/Fronts-Security-Developing-Ersela-Kripa/dp/1941806953 _Membership_ Join this channel to get access to perks: null _About the Channel_ Architecture with Stewart is a YouTube journey exploring architecture’s deep and enduring stories in all their bewildering glory. Weekly videos and occasional live events breakdown a wide range of topics related to the built environment in order to increase their general understanding and advocate their importance in shaping the world we inhabit. _About Me_ Stewart Hicks is an architectural design educator that leads studios and lecture courses as an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also serves as an Associate Dean in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and is the co-founder of the practice Design With Company. His work has earned awards such as the Architecture Record Design Vanguard Award or the Young Architect’s Forum Award and has been featured in exhibitions such as the Chicago Architecture Biennial and Design Miami, as well as at the V&A Museum and Tate Modern in London. His writings can be found in the co-authored book Misguided Tactics for Propriety Calibration, published with the Graham Foundation, as well as essays in MONU magazine, the AIA Journal Manifest, Log, bracket, and the guest-edited issue of MAS Context on the topic of character architecture. _Contact_ FOLLOW me on instagram: @stewart_hicks & @designwithco Design With Company: https://designwith.co/ University of Illinois at Chicago School of Architecture: https://arch.uic.edu/ _Special Thanks_ Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Storyblocks, and Shutterstock. Music provided by Epidemic Sound #architecture #urbandesign