ShinRa Mansion is one of the most iconic designs of the Art Deco movement. Its ornamental lines, symmetrical shape, and bold use of colors created a stunning backdrop for the Final Fantasy VII characters to traverse. The grand Neo-Baroque style was a popular choice for the upper classes of the day, and the mansion itself was full of intricate details, including steel girders overhanging ornate Victorian balconies, decorative roof leads, and a wide variety of angles and curves. The house design was centered around a courtyard and driveway, with exclusive guest accommodations like an alcove for the game’s antagonists. There were also balconies spanning the second and third floors, and large oval windows to flood the mansion with natural light. Most of the walls were panelled with a black and tan color scheme, and the majority of the detailing was French and Italian inspired. ShinRa’s design also included an express elevator that serviced all six floors of the mansion. It was a modern technological addition, one which no doubt added to the luxurious feel of the house and gave it a futuristic edge. ShinRa Mansion House Designs | Floor Plans | Layout
If your goal is to explore the ShinRa Mansion in full, then here is a checklist of all the essential items that need to be completed in game. To complete the mansion, you must find and collect all the Key Stones, and then defeat the various monsters and bosses throughout its halls. ShinRa Mansion Checklist - Final Fantasy 7
Before you embark on your journey to explore the ShinRa Mansion, take a look at this map of the house. It will come in handy in finding your way around the mansion. The mansion’s layout is a perfect reflection of its Art Deco style, with each room having its own unique aesthetics. The second floor was the main living space of the house, containing the library, salons, dining hall, and bedrooms. There was also a makeshift bridge leading to a smaller third floor used as storage. Below the mansion were several levels of technology labs where some of the game’s darker secrets were hidden. Come and explore the ShinRa Mansion today and discover all the hidden secrets of Final Fantasy VII! ShinRa Mansion Map - Final Fantasy 7
Introducing one of the most exquisite features of the ShinRa Mansion – the express elevators. This is one of the most luxurious designs in the mansion that gives visitors a unique view of the house. The three express elevators serve five floors and run continuously from floor to floor. Each one is decorated with an elaborate Art Deco interior and designed to provide passengers with an experience of “elevator art.” The first floor elevator has a beautiful gold-plated interior, while the second floor elevator is adorned with murals of exotic creatures from Final Fantasy VII. The express elevators also include custom-designed buttons that allow passengers to select their destination floor. This allows visitors to travel quickly around the vast house without having to stop on each floor. The elevators are also wired to serve as a communication system between floors, allowing the residents to easily communicate without having to leave their rooms. Shinra Mansion Express Elevators | Final Fantasy 7
Once you have acquired all of the Key Stones, make sure that you cannot miss the opportunity to explore the main floor of the ShinRa Mansion. This sixth floor was the primary living area of the game. The level full of scents of incense, curious decorations, and plenty of processors and terminals. Navigate it in search of clues related to the fugitive, Jenova, or simply take in the antique splendour of the decor. The observatory on level 6 was right at the heart of the ShinRa Mansion – a star-shaped atrium to observe the stars, multiple small rooms with terminals, and a system of secret passageways behind false walls to move around unnoticed. If you want to access the secret laboratory that lies beneath the ShinRa Mansion, you need to take the elevator to the secret level B1. However, before you can do this, you need to find the passcode hidden on the sixth floor. The passcode can be found in the conversations with a member of the Turks in the small room where the player first obtained the Key Stone. Shinra Mansion Floor 6 Guide - Final Fantasy 7
The second floor of the ShinRa Mansion was originally the home of the game’s antagonist, President Shinra. Its main room was a grand salon, where furniture and decorations reminiscent of Los Angeles were displayed. The salon was illuminated by several floor-to-ceiling windows and connected to the kitchen and dining room. The walls were covered with classic Art Deco wallpaper and intricate moldings in a classic black-and-tan color scheme. Head towards the bridge that connects the second floor to the third and you will find yourself in a circular room that gets increasingly darker towards the back. There was also a control room overlooking the bridge, which contained a map of the mansion and a switchboard that allowed access to the tower’s secret laboratories. Shinra Mansion Second Floor Guide - Final Fantasy 7
The third floor of the ShinRa Mansion has multiple offices, a laboratory, gymnasiums, medical facilities, and a large concealed vault. It was the main operating center of Shinra and where many of the game’s most profound secrets were kept. The laboratory was reserved for military and scientific research into high tech weapons, with experiments conducted involving Mako Reactor technology, Jenova, and materia extraction. In the gymnasium were dozens of punching bags and gymnastics equipment used by the Turks. The stairwell to the third floor was guarded by a wall of concrete, but could be accessed through a secret door at the back. To gain access to the secret laboratory below, the switch that controls the express elevator must be pushed. Shinra Mansion Third Floor Guide - Final Fantasy 7
The PHS Terminal Room in the ShinRa Mansion was a place where the characters could access their Party Member Lists, Save Points, Battle Arena Registrations, and other important information. The room contained a backlit panel with a variety of optical devices, switches, and technology covering the walls. Terminal points became available after the Key Stones were acquired and served as a convenient way for the party members to access their data. The PHS Terminal also had an extended function. This extended function was used to record the party’s progress in the game. This was an especially useful tool when backtracking and following different paths of the game. Shinra Mansion PHS Terminal Room Guide - Final Fantasy 7
The Fourth Floor of the ShinRa Mansion was a residential area that was not open to the public. It was the personal living area of President Shinra and included guest rooms, servants' quarters, and a study where President Shinra worked late nights. The bedroom was the main attraction of the floor, which contained a bed and luxurious furnishings along with a large framed photo of President Shinra and his family. There were many secret books behind locked doors, of which the characters had to find the keys in order to progress in the game. The fourth floor also had a few surprises in store. In one of the guest rooms was a secret hatch in the floor which lead to a hidden laboratory. In the laboratory, the party encountered various monsters and machines. Shinra Mansion Fourth Floor Guide - Final Fantasy 7
One of the most striking features of the ShinRa Mansion is its extensive secret laboratory, located beneath the house. On the surface, the mansion appears to be a towering Art Deco structure, but beneath it lies a hidden laboratory with a web of corridors and chambers. The area was a chaotic mix of beakers, tubes, and equipment filled with a variety of experiments related to life sciences. Surveillance cameras, weapons, and security guards could be found throughout the level. The secret laboratory had many purposes. It was used for Shinra’s own experiments, as well as for the detention of enemies and potential threats. Certain areas of the laboratory were off limits due to hazardous materials or radioactive waste. Once you have explored the entire area, you can access the final chamber of the laboratory, where the party faces off against Jenova SYNTHESIS, the final boss of the game. Shinra Mansion Secret Lab Guide - Final Fantasy 7