Inside the Alien Museum Barcelona with Carl Toop!
We have an absolutely massive treat for all our fellow Colonial Marines today. Our incredible site collaborator and legendary Xenomorph Warrior performer, Carl Toop, recently took an amazing trip. For context, Carl is the man behind the terrifying Alien Warrior close-ups in James Cameron’s 1986 classic Aliens.
Consequently, he knows exactly what makes an authentic prop setup look terrifying. He recently went to Spain to take a special tour of the famous Alien Museum Barcelona, which was created by the brilliant Luis Nostromo. Fortunately for us, Carl filmed an exclusive video walkthrough just for the APFanszone family!
Stepping Aboard the USCSS Nostromo
If you haven’t heard of this incredible destination yet, prepare to be amazed. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain, this private collection is stunning. Specifically, Luis has spent years meticulously building a museum-quality tribute dedicated entirely to the Alien franchise.
As a result, walking through the doors is literally like stepping right onto a movie set. The facility features screen-accurate corridors, haunting mood lighting, life-sized Xenomorphs, and incredibly rare memorabilia. Having a franchise veteran like Carl walk through this space is the ultimate crossover event for our community.
From Fan to Architect: How the Museum Was Born
Like many of us, Luis’s obsession began at an early age. He first saw Ridley Scott’s masterpiece when he was just 9 years old. Although he was absolutely terrified by H.R. Giger’s creature, he became completely fascinated. By the time he watched the 1986 sequel, he was fully hooked. He then spent over 20 years quietly building an incredible collection of toys, props, and original memorabilia at home.
Eventually, his apartment simply ran out of space. Therefore, in 2017, he rented a nearby property to house his growing collection. However, Luis did not just want to put his props on simple glass shelves. He wanted them to live in an environment that matched their cinematic scale.
Working almost entirely on his own during his free time, Luis hand-built life-size set recreations. He painstakingly recreated the narrow corridors of the USCSS Nostromo, Ash’s laboratory, and sections of the escape pod. When fellow collectors on social media saw what he was building, they begged to see it in person. Because of that high demand, Luis officially opened up private guided tours in 2020.
Carl’s Thoughts: Movie Eras and Hand-Crafted Intimacy
In his video walkthrough, Carl focuses heavily on the incredible layout of the museum. He notes that Luis did not just throw props into a room haphazardly. Instead, the museum carefully arranges the exhibits to take you chronologically through all the different films. Because of this layout, visitors can clearly see how the franchise evolved over decades.
Furthermore, Carl emphasizes the unique intimacy of the space. It is a highly personal museum where you can stand inches away from the incredible prop collection. Carl notes that the level of detail built into the physical interior architecture is absolutely mind-blowing. Every structural panel, light fixture, and floor grate feels completely authentic to the films.
A Massive Museum Expansion is Underway
Today, the site is globally recognized as a holy grail destination for sci-fi fans. In fact, even Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez paid a visit to praise Luis’s work! Because the collection has become so popular, Luis recently launched a major expansion project. Carl speaks directly about this brand-new museum space in the video. He notes that construction is moving fast to give these incredible pieces a much larger home.
Thanks to a highly successful crowdfunding campaign, the experience is expanding from 50 square meters to over 200 square meters! This upcoming space will feature much larger sets. Furthermore, it will include epic items from other legendary franchises like Predator, Dune, and Starship Troopers.
Watch Carl’s Exclusive Walkthrough Video
We won’t make you wait any longer. In the video, Carl issues a passionate invitation to all Alien and Predator fans worldwide, urging everyone to come to Spain and experience this place in person.
So grab your pulse rifles, dim your room lights, and check out the footage Carl sent over below! You can truly feel the eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere of Luis’s creation. Best of all, you get to hear Carl’s unique perspective on this legendary collection.
What Do You Think?
We want to send a huge thank you to Carl Toop for sending over this incredible footage. Likewise, a massive shoutout goes to Luis Nostromo for his unmatched dedication to keeping the Alien legacy alive. You can follow updates on the project directly through the official Luis Nostromo Instagram page.
Have any of you made the pilgrimage to this incredible museum in Spain? If you could grab just one prop from Luis’s collection for your own room, what would it be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
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