diff --git a/building.gd b/building.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e252fdd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/building.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+class_name Building extends Node2D
+
+var location : Vector2i # x is the angle, y is the height in the grid
+var dimension : Vector2i = Vector2.ONE # same as above
+@onready var grid : Grid = get_parent()
+
+# make sure location is set before adding a building to the scene tree
+# also make sure that the buildings are instantiated as children of the grid
+func _ready() -> void:
+	var angle = location.x * TAU / grid.num_collumns; # currently assumes anchor is bottom left
+	var height = grid.ground_radius + location.y * grid.cell_height;
+	position = height * Vector2.from_angle(angle)
+	print(angle, "   ", height, "   ", position)
+
+func overlaps(other : Building):
+	# heights don't overlap
+	if location.y >= other.location.y + other.dimension.y: return false # other is below
+	if location.y + dimension.y <= other.location.y: return false # other is above
+	
+	# angles overlap. We can now assume heights overlap
+	var relative_other_loc = (other.location.x - location.x + grid.num_collumns) % grid.num_collumns
+	if dimension.x > relative_other_loc: return true
+	if relative_other_loc + other.dimension > grid.num_collumns: return true
+	
+	# If we get here, angles do not overlap
+	return false
+	
diff --git a/building.gd.uid b/building.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a1e17b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/building.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://b2ji03ekijjnn
diff --git a/building.gdshader b/building.gdshader
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c950f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/building.gdshader
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+shader_type canvas_item;
+
+varying flat ivec2 location;
+varying flat ivec2 dimension;
+
+uniform float ground_height = 3000.;
+uniform float cell_height = 300.;
+uniform int num_cells = 60;
+
+varying vec2 world_position;
+
+void vertex()
+{
+    world_position = (MODEL_MATRIX * vec4(VERTEX, 0.0, 1.0)).xy;
+	location = ivec2(256. * COLOR.xy);
+	dimension = ivec2(256. * COLOR.zw);
+	//location = ivec2(45, 1);
+	//dimension = ivec2(1, 1);
+}
+
+void fragment() {
+	float radius = sqrt(world_position.x * world_position.x + world_position.y * world_position.y);
+	float angle = atan(world_position.y, world_position.x);
+
+	float sample_y = 1. - ((radius - ground_height) / cell_height - float( location.y)) / float(dimension.y);
+	float sample_x = mod(fract(angle / TAU + 1.) * float(num_cells) - float(location.x) + float(num_cells), float(num_cells)) / float(dimension.x);
+
+	if(sample_y > 1. || sample_y < 0. || sample_x > 1. || sample_x < 0.) {
+		discard;
+	}
+	COLOR = texture(TEXTURE, vec2(sample_x, sample_y));
+	//COLOR = vec4(ivec4(location, dimension));
+
+}
+
+//void light() {
+//	// Called for every pixel for every light affecting the CanvasItem.
+//	// Uncomment to replace the default light processing function with this one.
+//}
diff --git a/building.gdshader.uid b/building.gdshader.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..984dac8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/building.gdshader.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://c7gb1nqwvkr37
diff --git a/building.tscn b/building.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ccd539
--- /dev/null
+++ b/building.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=6 format=3 uid="uid://djawvtdwp423v"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://b2ji03ekijjnn" path="res://building.gd" id="1_5j34s"]
+[ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://cy70quh6k3s1j" path="res://icon.svg" id="2_2yopf"]
+[ext_resource type="Shader" uid="uid://c7gb1nqwvkr37" path="res://building.gdshader" id="2_f1gjg"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://dj7d4d2xs3nci" path="res://building_mesh.gd" id="4_qnfc1"]
+
+[sub_resource type="ShaderMaterial" id="ShaderMaterial_qnfc1"]
+resource_local_to_scene = true
+shader = ExtResource("2_f1gjg")
+shader_parameter/ground_height = 3000.0
+shader_parameter/cell_height = 300.0
+shader_parameter/num_cells = 60
+
+[node name="Building" type="Node2D"]
+script = ExtResource("1_5j34s")
+
+[node name="Sprite2D" type="Sprite2D" parent="."]
+self_modulate = Color(0.1764706, 0, 0.003921569, 0.003921569)
+material = SubResource("ShaderMaterial_qnfc1")
+scale = Vector2(7, 7)
+texture = ExtResource("2_2yopf")
+script = ExtResource("4_qnfc1")
diff --git a/building_mesh.gd b/building_mesh.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a381f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/building_mesh.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+extends Sprite2D
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	var location = Vector2i(get_parent().location)
+	var dimension = Vector2i(get_parent().dimension)
+	print(location, dimension)
+	self_modulate = Color8(location.x, location.y, dimension.x, dimension.y)
diff --git a/building_mesh.gd.uid b/building_mesh.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc7bbb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/building_mesh.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dj7d4d2xs3nci
diff --git a/draw_circle.gd b/draw_circle.gd
index 2d87a9c..d9ac2d5 100644
--- a/draw_circle.gd
+++ b/draw_circle.gd
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-extends Sprite2D
+extends Node2D
 @export var radius : float;
 
 func _draw():
diff --git a/earth.tscn b/earth.tscn
index 8856c90..a9b60d5 100644
--- a/earth.tscn
+++ b/earth.tscn
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [gd_scene load_steps=4 format=3 uid="uid://jjoyj1ldafkf"]
 
-[ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://cy70quh6k3s1j" path="res://icon.svg" id="1_qbwya"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://b5fhsy1xlreco" path="res://draw_circle.gd" id="2_2bhor"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://m3vyyfk8gnma" path="res://grid.gd" id="3_2bhor"]
 
 [sub_resource type="CircleShape2D" id="CircleShape2D_5i67w"]
 radius = 3000.0
@@ -13,7 +13,14 @@ radius = 3000.0
 [node name="CollisionShape2D" type="CollisionShape2D" parent="Ground"]
 shape = SubResource("CircleShape2D_5i67w")
 
-[node name="Sprite2D" type="Sprite2D" parent="Ground"]
-texture = ExtResource("1_qbwya")
+[node name="GroundVisual" type="Node2D" parent="Ground"]
 script = ExtResource("2_2bhor")
 radius = 3000.0
+
+[node name="Grid" type="Node2D" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("3_2bhor")
+ground_radius = 3000.0
+cell_height = 300.0
+num_collumns = 60
+debug = true
+metadata/_custom_type_script = "uid://m3vyyfk8gnma"
diff --git a/grid.gd b/grid.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44510ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/grid.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+class_name Grid extends Node2D
+
+@export var ground_radius : float
+@export var cell_height : float
+@export var num_collumns : int
+@export var debug : bool
+
+var buildings : Array[Building] = []
+
+func _draw() -> void:
+	if !debug:
+		return
+
+	for i in range(10):
+		draw_arc(Vector2.ZERO, ground_radius + i * cell_height, 0, TAU, 250, Color.SKY_BLUE, 1.0, true);
+	
+	for i in range(num_collumns):
+		var angle = i * TAU / num_collumns;
+		draw_line(Vector2.ZERO, 10000 * Vector2.from_angle(angle), Color.SKY_BLUE);
+
+func add_building_to_collumn(building : Building, collumn : int):
+	# find the height of the top building in the buildings list:
+	building.location = Vector2(collumn, 0)
+	var height = 0
+
+	# TODO: support other dimensions for buildings
+	
+	# add the new building one higher than the previous
+	height += 1
+	building.location = Vector2i(collumn, height);
+
+# for testing
+func _ready() -> void:
+	var packed : PackedScene = preload("res://building.tscn")
+	
+	var test_building = packed.instantiate()
+	test_building.location = Vector2(45, 0)
+	add_child(test_building)
+	
+	test_building = packed.instantiate()
+	test_building.location = Vector2(44, 0)
+	add_child(test_building)
+	
+	test_building = packed.instantiate()
+	test_building.location = Vector2(45, 1)
+	add_child(test_building)
diff --git a/grid.gd.uid b/grid.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5298a7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/grid.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://m3vyyfk8gnma
diff --git a/main.tscn b/main.tscn
index 76688cd..a6ce021 100644
--- a/main.tscn
+++ b/main.tscn
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@
 
 [node name="main" type="Node2D"]
 
+[node name="Earth" parent="." instance=ExtResource("3_lquwl")]
+
 [node name="Player" parent="." instance=ExtResource("2_1bvp3")]
 position = Vector2(500, -3100)
 scale = Vector2(3, 3)
 
-[node name="Earth" parent="." instance=ExtResource("3_lquwl")]
-
 [node name="Ghost" parent="." instance=ExtResource("3_h2yge")]
 position = Vector2(0, -3200)
diff --git a/player_walk.png.import b/player_walk.png.import
index 37dc416..e86412e 100644
--- a/player_walk.png.import
+++ b/player_walk.png.import
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ dest_files=["res://.godot/imported/player_walk.png-dd7b13f797aca66ef3a8a41ed9897
 compress/mode=0
 compress/high_quality=false
 compress/lossy_quality=0.7
+compress/uastc_level=0
+compress/rdo_quality_loss=0.0
 compress/hdr_compression=1
 compress/normal_map=0
 compress/channel_pack=0
@@ -25,6 +27,10 @@ mipmaps/generate=false
 mipmaps/limit=-1
 roughness/mode=0
 roughness/src_normal=""
+process/channel_remap/red=0
+process/channel_remap/green=1
+process/channel_remap/blue=2
+process/channel_remap/alpha=3
 process/fix_alpha_border=true
 process/premult_alpha=false
 process/normal_map_invert_y=false
diff --git a/project.godot b/project.godot
index 9f3af5a..e7a6cbd 100644
--- a/project.godot
+++ b/project.godot
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ config_version=5
 
 config/name="The Dark Side of Earth"
 run/main_scene="uid://cxo6bq26huau7"
-config/features=PackedStringArray("4.4", "Forward Plus")
+config/features=PackedStringArray("4.5", "Forward Plus")
 config/icon="res://icon.svg"
 
 [display]