The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook

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While creating Novigrad’s look we were constantly
looking for opportunities to convey the
atmosphere of a colorful, bustling port city. The
character of this location and its surroundings
was meant to be diametrically opposed to the
doom and gloom and ramshackle wooden buildings
of Velen.
The Free City’s architecture is inspired by the
trade settlements of northern Europe. Most
buildings are made of brick, streets are paved,
and most roofs (outside of the poor district, that
is) are covered in tile rather than thatch. Since
real estate taxes in such cities were often based
off street frontage, most townhouses are narrow
and add to their living space with a second story
that juts out over the street. Only the richest
inhabitants—merchants, bankers, and aristocrats—can
afford more expansive residences.
Novigrad’s color palette also differs from what
players will become familiar with in No Man’s
Land. The city dwellers dress in colorful (at times
even garish) clothing, and temples and administrative
buildings are decorated with bright
pennants and drapery adorned with religious
symbols or the city emblem. There’s a reason
why Northerners claim with pride that Novigrad
is the capital of the world.