Mixed Residential Development – Scale 1:250

We photographed this model in the low angled sun of a late winter’s afternoon which gives it an interesting mellow glow. It could also glow in a completely different way because each block could be individually illuminated at the touch of a button. The development featured a mixture of refurbished existing structures and proposed new buildings

Large Housing Development – Scale 1:200

Commissioned by a major national developer, this very large model became the focal point of a sophisticated marketing suite for a large residential development in the south of England. The brown field site included an unusual combination of buildings, combining refurbishment of existing structures with complementary new build elements.

Block Model for Proposed Harbour Redevelopment – Scale 1.750

This model demonstrates how three different levels of detail can be combined to create an informative, attractive but not overly expensive block model. The ordinary off-site context buildings are made with very simplified flat roofs; the landmark off-site buildings are made to a very detailed recognizable level with windows and accurate roof pitches, while the proposed new buildings (which are still only a concept design) are made to crisply detailed level somewhere in between. You should be able to see all this if you click on the image to see a close-up view.

College Redevelopment – Scale 1:250

At 1:250 scale this large full colour, detailed model was used to illustrate the redevelopment proposals for a Devon college site. The landform had to be very accurately to illustrate the changing levels, complex steps and embankments across the site.

White Styled School – Scale 1:500

A white stylized model of a proposed school with accurate land forming to show how the sports pitches and buildings are accommodated on this sloping site. Whilst the general look is stylized, the buildings are made to fairly detailed level.

Large Housing Development – Scale 1:200

Commissioned by a major national developer, this very large model became the focal point of a sophisticated marketing suite for a large residential development in the south of England. The brown field site included an unusual combination of buildings, combining refurbishment of existing structures with complementary new build elements.

Block Model for Proposed Harbour Redevelopment – Scale 1.750

This model demonstrates how three different levels of detail can be combined to create an informative, attractive but not overly expensive block model. The ordinary off-site context buildings are made with very simplified flat roofs; the landmark off-site buildings are made to a very detailed recognizable level with windows and accurate roof pitches, while the proposed new buildings (which are still only a concept design) are made to crisply detailed level somewhere in between. You should be able to see all this if you click on the image to see a close-up view.

College Redevelopment – Scale 1:250

At 1:250 scale this large full colour, detailed model was used to illustrate the redevelopment proposals for a Devon college site. The landform had to be very accurately to illustrate the changing levels, complex steps and embankments across the site.

White Styled School – Scale 1:500

A white stylized model of a proposed school with accurate land forming to show how the sports pitches and buildings are accommodated on this sloping site. Whilst the general look is stylized, the buildings are made to fairly detailed level.

Waterside Apartments – Scale 1:200

Occupying a prime site in a docklands redevelopment area, the model was given added drama by including the nearby elegantly designed pedestrian suspension bridge.

 Detailed Marketing model – Scale 1:150

When space in a sales office is limited, 1:150 is a useful scale option because it is small enough to keep the model compact but large enough to show plenty of detail, which helps bring the model to life. This model was only 450mm square but if you look closely at the enlarged images you’ll see we’ve actually been able to show the wooden handrails on the balcony balustrades. This type of detail invites the viewer to inspect the model up close and allows them to visualize themselves enjoying the sea view from what could be their apartment balcony. All of which builds confidence and can help secure early sales, even when the site outside is little more than a hole in the ground.

 High quality sales model for national house builder – 1:200 Scale.

Taylor Wimpey is one of Britain’s biggest housing developers and they keep coming back to us because of the consistent high quality of our work and the reliability of our service. We finished this particular model for them earlier this month; we’ve just started another and we’ve got several more in the pipeline. These highly detailed and very accurately made models are an ideal marketing tool for any housing development Sales Office.

 Small scale, white styled massing model – Scale 1:750

This project was actually completed in November last year but we refrained from featuring it in these pages until it had gone in front of the planners for an important presentation. The purpose of the model was to illustrate the comparative massing of the proposed new build apartments and to show how the proposal enhanced the existing cricket ground by creating a sense of enclosure around it. The thing that is hard to appreciate with this small scale model is just how small the buildings are – the apartment buildings are actually no more than 25mm tall! If you click on the images to enlarge them you’ll see how much detail we have managed to show in what is essentially a simplified massing model.

Illuminated model of contemporary house – Scale 1:100. Detailed full colour model

When we quoted for this project we offered the client the option of adding lights within and around the building because we felt that illumination would really help bring this model to life. The client was happy to go for it and, as you can see from the pictures, it does give the model an extra dimension which helps sell the scheme as a vibrant, contemporary design. In particular, the internal illumination highlighting the 4 car “garage/car gallery” with glass doors was an important feature. At 1:100 scale, we were able to show plenty of detail and the model was only 450mm wide, making it easily transportable. 1:100 is an ideal scale for a model of an individual building such as this.

 Two models for R&D wind tunnel testing – scale 1:150

Over the years we’ve created many models specifically for use in wind tunnel tests to measure various performance criteria of proposed new designs. These two models, both at 1:150 scale, have a 1.8m diameter and are designed to fit on a circular rotating bed within the wind tunnel chamber. They were recently delivered to the R&D department at a local university where various tests will be conducted. The project with the clear acrylic building in the middle will be used to measure natural ventilation performance and will have pressure taps fixed at key points within the building envelope. The darker model is for a different development and will be used to measure pedestrian discomfort levels at varying wind conditions. This is done by filming the disruption patterns of fine white powders around the buildings under different wind speeds and directions. The model is dark so that the powder shows up against the background. The enlarged image shows the upper part of the buildings removed.

1:250 scale sales model updated.

We recently added a new phase of houses to this very large sales model. The overall site model was originally completed in August 2020 but only the south part of the site had detailed houses because the north phase was still at design stage. To minimise the time the model was away from the sales office we made all the buildings in advance in our workshop before collecting the model to update the landform. This is something we’ve done quite often when a client is marketing a development in phased stages. Unfortunately because the model had to be returned to site as soon as possible we only got time to photograph it in our workshop, so the photos aren’t the best.

A stylised combination of walnut and clear acrylic.

As well as big, highly detailed sales models we also sometimes produce small, simple projects such as this stylised concept model for a private house. Combining walnut and clear acrylic on a black base, the model was only 160mm square so was very much a portable presentation tool for conveying the fundamental spatial organisation of the building. The project was actually a rush job in the run up to Christmas which we squeezed in round our existing commitments. It was enjoyable for us to work on something so simple and elegant compared to the high level of detail we are normally asked to produce. The architects were so pleased with the model they asked us to produce a second version for them to keep in their studio.

Large illuminated model for marketing suite.

We recently completed this illuminated sales model for a Thames-side housing development in East London. At approx. 2m x 1.4m it is a larger than usual model but the client had allowed plenty of space for it as a centrepiece of their on-site marketing suite. The lighting effects include the option to light up four separate phases individually, controlled by the buttons visible on the front edge of the model. If you click on the right inset image above to enlarge it you can see the high level of detail we can achieve, even at 1:250 scale which is the smallest scale option suitable for this type of sales model.

Fully detailed sales model for the retirement homes sector.

The client for this project got in touch after we were recommended to him by one of our other clients who we’ve worked with for many years. In fact, quite a bit of our work comes via this route and it’s always gratifying to know that our customers are happy to recommend us to other organisations. This model is at 1:150 scale which, as you can see from the photos, allows us to show a high level of architectural detail. It’s an ideal scale choice for mid-sized buildings or compact developments comprising several smaller buildings.

Second model this year for national developer.

Over the last decade we’ve produced several housing models a year for this national house builder and this is the second of three models they’ve ordered this year. They keep coming back to us because they know we always meet deadlines and always produce high quality, accurate models that really help their sales staff do their job. This model is at 1:250 scale which is too small to show a high level of detail but if you click on the images above to enlarge them you’ll see we’re able to show more than enough detail to make the houses, gardens and overall site layout easily understandable. We’re starting the next project for this client later this year.