'The Crown' Sets Explained by the Show's Set Designer | Notes on a Set

In the first-ever episode of 'Notes on a Set', 'The Crown' production designer, Martin Childs, breaks down the locations and sets used for filming scenes. Childs explains how his team used Lancaster House and Wilton House to represent rooms in Buckingham Palace as well as other designs to step in for the HMY Britannia and Tony's studio. Childs won an Oscar for his work on 'Shakespeare in Love', and received an Oscar nomination for 'Quills'.
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'The Crown' Sets Explained by the Show's Set Designer | Notes on a Set

[@krobles8930]

I love listening to people who are passionate and good at what they do. So interesting

[@jespino1560]

Set design is sooo under estimated. As shown in the video it is a character in itself.

[@coma13794]

The level of attention to detail is nuts. I wonder how many other shows/movies go to this length? I recalled watching The Crown and finding myself looking over the sets/locations just as much as I was watching the characters. The extra detail really does help bring you in as a viewer. No wonder it cost so much to make!

[@CallieMasters5000]

I agree. Half as much detail would have been just fine for about 95% of the audience. I'm more bothered by any historical facts that are just completely wrong. For instance, there was an entire episode about Churchill's secretary getting killed during the fog storm, and they say that never happened.

[@kaybeeraut9389]

Outlander has incredible attention to detail as well.

[@tacosmexicanstyle7846]

Kaybee Raut I agree but unfortunately Outlander's story is completely nuts and off the rails--no human could possibly put up with the going back and forth in and out of danger like Clair and Jamie do... There are so many drastic things that happen on that show, it's hard to keep up

[@kaybeeraut9389]

tacos mexicanstyle the story is crazy, I agree..as are the books. But, you can't fault Jon Gary's set design. Its impeccable.

[@tacosmexicanstyle7846]

Kaybee Raut The set design for series 2 is my favourite. Their little flat is just gorgeous! Costumes are great too, esp the Dior elements in Claire's outfits

[@shelley2he844]

For me royal or aristocratic films and tv shows always failed because they could never get the details right, the sets never looked good. The crown is a dream of a series for me. Everything looks real, expensive and believable. Just perfect. I will miss the actors who are going and I just hope the new ones get it right.

[@evacope1718]

I found Downton Abbey to be great on set design but yes i agree

[@luvhart]

I totally agree and The Crown has excelled in recreating these sets. I love how they perfectly captured the drab interior of post war 10 Downing Street, with its flaking painted walls and austere atmosphere. One particular nice touch was the fantastic CGI that recreated Buckingham Palace...although many British viewers would easily recognise the grand staircase comes from Lancaster House

[@jochenstossberg5427]

Watch any Merchant Ivory film. The always got it right with limited finance. Their set designers always created rooms that you believed totally that people lived in.

[@dontarguewithidiots7459]

me too. I like Downton Abbey too (see comment above) but for me The Crown is next level.

[@uziTGC]

this guy is a genius, his work really made the series shine. Amazing video btw, glad to be a subscriber!

[@lauraquinones3682]

I absolutely love the crown and architecture so this is just perfect for me 💕

[@jennhoff03]

WONDERFUL in-depth look at those sets! I love his attention to detail and keeping it historically accurate. Love it love it love it.

[@pinkybear7692]

the details are driving me crazy! i've always been amazed and i always find myself looking at the background/set and the details, salute man!

[@CoddiwomplingMiguel]

The actors of The Crown may change but Martin Childs shall stay. Wonderful video! Can’t wait for Season 3!

[@joannanica2711]

I fell in love with the series and watching the attention to detail makes it more fascinating.

[@KrzyKuri]

I am in awe of the details. The work, the effort they put into decor and sets. The meaning each object signifies is just amazing! Astounding! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@brookofjewels]

What a fantastic video. Thank you!

[@sheilar5660]

Cant wait for season 3!!!

[@Miumiu0404]

Girl, it's going to be a very painful wait.

[@jettalady1985]

When is it coming out on netflix

[@royblekman8186]

Sarah Warner in the next 4 days.

[@edacelika]

I can’t wait for season 5...

[@kenziegiese3828]

I’m sad that I’m JUST seeing this, thank you for this architectural digest!!!❤️ The Crown is by far my favorite show with all the details, the timeline, the story made from history, just everything! Thank you so much ❤️

[@smartychase]

Why sad? Just be grateful

[@ivan_ka2363]

I always wonder what they used for the big staircase in Buckingham Palace.Quite a number of scenes were filmed on and around that staircase

[@jonathanraithel5726]

It’s the Lancaster House staircase.

[@nataliehelferty1438]

The Staircase was indeed Buckingham Palace. Natalie Helferty The Queen of Canada Hollywood Royal

[@abigailyangg]

Amazing show. It deserves more attention.

[@TotalServicesShows10]

The Crown details are amazing and very well done to make the scenes authentic.

[@LMNY1]

The last music cue is a Chopin waltz - fantastic choice.

[@sparkleshine0131]

I love these details, Martin's passion really shines through!

[@dontarguewithidiots7459]

The set design on this show is incredible. Absolutely incredible. It's so visually stunning and lush. I feel like I'm a royal

[@elletuppen4844]

Thank you for that. Always fascinating to explore the creative minds, tremendous research and brilliant tricks folded into such a magnificent period series.

[@demh7823]

Martin Childs won the Oscar for production design for "Shakespeare in Love". FYI.

[@TiffanyDesign]

please more notes on a set videos!!!

[@dontarguewithidiots7459]

The set design is so extraordinary I would actually watch this show with the sound off.

[@paulinapla8541]

I loved this, the making of sets for a movie or a play is one of the reason I want to study architecture. Please do more episodes!

[@now-boarding2853]

Thank you @Architecturaldigest for this content! Please continue inspiring our curiosity. Cheers!

[@yr6162]

I love The Crown and cannot wait until season 3 begins!

[@NonSequitur404]

Terrific work by a talented man and his team. Also the tapping of that thick chinagraph pencil on the glass screen was giving me serious ASMR.

[@sfinnable]

"some of the pictures on the wall.. for copyright purposes... Are by me, haha!" Lmao

[@rroygbivable]

Absolutely divine

[@Masha_D8793]

This was so interesting and insightful! Thank you very much!

[@elissapatin6178]

Please add more to this series!

[@zuckeroctopi2920]

What an incredible man! 👏 Excellent job!

[@fadhilramadhani1847]

This is outstanding!

[@atomictea21]

I don’t watch the Crown but I am a Set Designer in college. I love these videos so much they mean a lot to me.

[@smartychase]

Maybe u should watch if that's your intended craft

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

I hope Architectural Digest covers the architecture of Game of Thrones and other sets, backdrops, and fictional buildings.

[@lizsteeds6697]

Why? It is not architecture then ... just a temporary set built to a set designers no doubt well researched imaginary concept ... a faux building though ... built with none of the architectural rigour of a 'real-life' piece of architecture. This series on set design specific to 'The Crown' is different because it is working within "real" architectural baselines, real buildings ... recontextualising a building using set design as it were ... and already living, engineered , architecturally designed buildings (and boat). There is no "architecture" of a purpose built set from scratch, just smoke and mirrors ... and great facsimile ... often not even four complete walls or with resolved, complete exteriors and definitely not a real building ... just ephemera. Therefore not really in AD's remit ... no?

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

Liz Steeds Such a well written and thought out reply, and I didn’t even get a notification and had to stumble upon this 1 year later by myself?

[@QueeneAllie]

I love this! Please do more!

[@elio5896]

I love this show! i enjoyed this video as well!

[@JoelHernandez-rz4pe]

That marker is so satisfying

[@wendybrooks6154]

This man is brilliant!

[@rodU65]

I just found this videos. I needdddd more!!!!!

[@ArturMaiaCarvalho]

Beautiful work, masterpiece

[@FrancescaH2204]

i have an extremely random question, what pen is he using? it looks so smooth and easy to use

[@jraaccounts]

it appears that he's writing on glass, so some kind of marker that can write on glass. i think part of the reason it looks so smooth is because of the glass, not the marker itself.

[@ananyagoel2682]

its a wax pen,i have it,they are so smooth and glide over any surface

[@RocketDragons]

It's a Crayola Window Crayon. shop.crayola.com/color-and-draw/window-crayons-5297650000.html

[@pioneerpark7861]

the details are driving me crazy! i've always been amazed and i always find myself looking at the background/set and the details, salute man!

[@tomascastillo2839]

I never realized that were not film in the real buckingham palace or in the real locations... impressive work

[@jackt8295]

He is soooo talented

[@LBELIZABETH96]

Can you do a video on how to enter the set design profession??

[@joannekatende]

Wow!!

[@raindropsneverfall]

I would love to work on a show like that as a graphic designer.

[@soulsurvivorla]

This was just delicious!

[@arbood26]

Watching this somehow made me feel guilty for watching The Crown for free by downloading it on the internet at not watching it on Netflix 😂😅

[@BrookeSimmonsGreenDoorVirtual]

Brilliant.

[@shauryapatil8751]

My favorite part of the show is the subtleness in the grandiosity of the Palaces. The furniture isn't too shiny and grandiose to take the seriousness out of the show.

[@kareninacarado]

I need new videos explaining the set designs of season 3!!

[@l3p3]

2:54 Seriously? Of course, you are supposed to sit side by side, looking at the paintings together!

[@rogersmj]

I really appreciate the level of detail on the British side of things, but in Season 3 their representation of the White House interior -- I think what was supposed to be the Cabinet Room -- was almost hilariously bad. Probably for budget reasons, they didn't want to build a whole new set for just a few shots, but it was way off.

[@marciarivera5185]

Lovely details, that is make the perfect and right the project for any high design concept, look elegant with character, is a big challenger.

[@Martina_E]

I watched Reign which was amazing. Is The Crown just as good?

[@JulieWallis1963]

(StyleME) StyleBitsnBobs I’ve not seen Reign, I don’t usually watch any period dramas, but I loved The Crown. *I do highly recommend it as an entertaining series, even if you don’t think you love royalty* . Perfect casting, brilliant acting, fantastic stories.

[@JV-yd4qg]

Crown is another league from Reign but from the same Monarchy.😅 Reign is a chic flit romance with the target audience~~younger generation unlike The Crown which is for serious & general public.👌

[@emiliobello2538]

Interesting

[@manmaje3596]

The queens sitting room is the bow window. The private apartments do not have enfilade doors either.

[@jrpacer6355]

I would have never known by watching the film....

[@TV-oj8uh]

I love the beards of those "caryatids" they're called atlantes

[@mamarobyn]

Love this show but miss the young Queen....

[@nervlevler]

This is so amazing. But am I the only one who thought the first studio scene was SO WEIRD AND UNCOMFORTABLE?

[@barbarabrady4869]

Don’t cut to the guy’s face looking down while he’s drawing! The interest - the magic - is in the DRAWING!!

[@Wongwanchungwongjumbo]

Her Majesty, Late Queen Elizabeth 2nd must had Approved the Crown Movie directors Movie Netflix to Film the Buckingham Palace and the Windsor Castle settings.

[@chief1redwolf909]

Love the lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength and love your neighbors as yourself

[@starlinguk]

It's a shame about the gallery, the real one isn't full of portraits, it's full of Rembrandts and Vermeers, Dutch seascapes, Rubenses, etc.

[@jourdainjardin846]

And they couldn’t do that, other than building a massive set and having printed canvases, which look awful.

[@akshaythakur3307]

Wow I'm early for once lol

[@kristofferpvp]

firsy' f¨ d

[@matthewjaramillo743]

Room on room on room is "Ofal Laud?"

[@ainsleyameerali7622]

I would of asked Natalie Portman just for a cameo appearance.. i would of melted in my chair if it was natalie Portman.. please recast Claire joy .. please

[@annafilmmaker4770]

Ainsley Ameerali : I admire Ms Portman’s work but as this is a quintessentially definitively British story I think Claire Foy was the perfect choice. I have seen lots of work and she is always amazing to watch. If you like “the Crown” check out the “Upstairs, Downstairs” sequel of about 10 years ago, which has Claire Foy as part of a stellar primarily British cast. Hope you enjoy x

[@bellz9113]

@@annafilmmaker4770 I think the poster was implying natalie Portman appearing as Jacqueline Kennedy who she played in her movie Jackie. I doubt this person was thinking Natalie Portman could play Queen Elizabeth the second. We know that would have been questionable per her performance as Anne Boleyn in the Other Boleyn girl. Although I dont know for sure because of that last sentence???

[@Tuxxxido]

Hate his loud breathing inbetween words

[@TheFiown]

As a Scot I have zero interest in the Royal Family ( as much as they have in me! ) but I quite enjoyed the series, except the jewellery was dreadful.

[@smartychase]

The fact u are a Scot is irrelevant

[@Golfonegwofour]

why bother with the pink pen? we are not idiots we can visualise what you are saying! Your just being pretentious!

[@pioneerpark7861]

"some of the pictures on the wall.. for copyright purposes... Are by me, haha!" Lmao