Space Popular's research has resulted in a database of more than 1,000 fictional portals. These are classified according to their attributes and are shown below as a series of types.
Some are categorised by the type of travel – across time, space, or dimensions, others by the portal's creation – through technology, magic, or nature; the way in which it is used; how it can be initialised; and who has permission to use it. Many portals enable forms of exclusivity, such as the wall at Platform 9¾ in the Harry Potter books.
The database also contains details about size, appearance and length of journey, and data about works in which they appear, such as genre, media or place of origin.
These drawings display Space Popular's list of portal types – a project which is still in progress. These types offer a language and a historical framework to reference, so we can be more aware of their wider connotations and the experiences portals offer, in fiction and in the future.
Zoom in on the drawings to explore the research in detail.
