Creating hobbit holes on a small scale
WHEN the Hobbiton set was rebuilt in 2010 for The Hobbit films, and to become a permanent Lord of the Rings experience, a team of builders, artisans and gardeners took on the rebuild. The original set was faithfully restored.
Each hobbit hole was dug and strong retaining walls and a wooden-framed roof erected. Turf was laid over the roofs. Small windows were added to give the impression the hobbit hole stretched back into the hill.
Bricks were baked in a resident kiln and made to fit around a wooden frame to give the impression of a brick hole. Concrete stones were made on site to construct chimneys. Multiple layers of paint were applied to make the hobbit hole look 500 years old. Vinegar was used to make timber look aged. A special glaze was used in the window frames, through which objects could be admired from outside. The glass in some windows was cooked until it slumped and buckled to make it look older. To create lichen, the art department mixed paint and glue for the moss and added yoghurt to encourage the growth of real moss.
Each hobbit hole door was brightly coloured and the garden in front often reflected the tastes and occupations of the inhabitants.
The filmmakers used sleight-of-hand to create the fantasies – some hobbit-scale holes were made larger so that when normal-sized actors stood in front of them they looked hobbit size. Fences were made on two scales to create differences in sizes of characters. All the props used were also made at different scales to emphasise difference in size.