University Campus Model – Scale 1:333

Produced for Queens University Belfast, this master-planning model was commissioned to illustrate the existing and proposed developments within the university’s Health Sciences campus. A major part of the model making process involved the co-ordination of many different drawings for the numerous buildings on site. As well as this, a lengthy site visit was required during which we took over 300 photographs and surveyed the general levels across the overall area of the model. The significant buildings were modelled in high detail with the context buildings shown as accurate massing blocks.

Private House Model – Scale 1:100

One of the main requirements of this model is to illustrate how the building design addresses this steeply sloping site, not just externally but also internally. The building actually separates out into three layers to expose the proposed internal room layout. There are two houses on the site, a main house and a guest house and both have lift-off layers to show the internal views. To facilitate transportation, the model is also made in two sections with the join being between the two houses. The first part of this model was made before Christmas – if you click on November 2009 (on the left side of this page) you’ll be able to see the earlier photographs.

Bridge Model – Scale non specific

We’ve chosen to feature this stylized bridge model for December (you’ll no doubt recognize it as Sidney Harbour Bridge) because the main projects we’ve been working on this month won’t be completed until late January, so no pics currently available (click on October 2009 to see another bridge example). This simplified version of Sydney’s famous landmark measured 1800mm in length and was used as a table centrepiece for a corporate function – the theme for the evening was, of course, Australia. We’re heading off for a function of our own now – with a Christmas theme! We’ll be back keen and eager in the New Year to finish off our current projects and get stuck into some exciting new ones.

Private House Model – Scale 1:100

We had an extremely busy month through November but unfortunately we can’t show most of these projects as they are currently confidential (the client is a huge international financial institution). We have, however had permission to show this model of a proposed private house in Cannes. The purpose of the model is to illustrate how the design addresses this steeply sloping site, not just externally but also internally, and to this end the building actually separates out into three layers to expose the proposed internal room layout. We haven’t been able to take any proper photographs of this model as yet because it is still a work in progress. There is a second part of the site still to make which should be completed early next year and that is when we plan to feature it properly in these pages.

Bridge Model – Scale 1:12

The object of this model was to illustrate the advantages of the client’s product, a quick to install, combined kerbstone/drainage system specially designed for bridge constructions. The model had to be made to this large scale (it’s 2.5m long) so that the functionality of the design could be instantly understood by the viewer. Click on the Enlarge Image feature and judge for yourself whether it does the job. The display was actually commissioned for use at a trade exhibition in Saudi Arabia. This meant we had to design it so it could be flat-packed into a purpose-built flight case and still be easily assembled by the client on site. We also steered the client towards some very nice, off-the-shelf 1:12 scale cars which he bought himself and placed on the model to bring it to life.

Concept model shipped to Saudi for competition bid

This white styled concept model incorporates clear Perspex blocks to represent the proposed buildings for a major development in Saudi Arabia. The client RTKL, an international firm of architects, needed a company who could complete the model in just two weeks, despite the fact that for the first week they were still finalizing the scheme. We were happy to take the project on, working flexibly with the client as they evolved their design. The model then had to shipped to Saudi to form the focal point of their presentation for this international competition.

Town Centre Redevelopment Model – Scale 1:500

The planning authorities requested a model be produced for this development because it was very difficult to appreciate how the proposed new buildings were going to fit into this mostly sloping site in a sensitive town centre location. This stylized, monochromatic model was made to demonstrate how this relationship worked, using very accurate topography and faithful representation of all existing and proposed building massing and roofscapes. The designers were even able to get some informative ground level views by photographing the model with a modelscope camera (see the circular image).

Planning Model for Wandsworth Council – Scale 1:500

Wandsworth Council needed this model to help evaluate the massing and overall layout of a range of different redevelopment proposals for the area. The context buildings are shown in white, the existing on-site buildings in light grey, and the proposed new buildings in a light buff. All the on-site buildings were made removable so that the team could experiment with the various options. The model was made in two halves for easier transportation and came with custom-built protective flight cases.

Mixed Use Development Block Model – Scale 1:500

One of the purposes of this model was to demonstrate how the massing of the proposed new development steps progressively down from the tower blocks on one side of the site to the low rise buildings on the other. You can see this particularly well if you click on the Enlarge Image button. The model also illustrates the physical barrier created by a major rail line adjacent to the site.

White/Perspex Concept Model – Scale 1:500

In contrast to the detailed school model, also shown on this page, this was a very simple model at a much smaller scale, designed to show the proposed massing and site layout for a large residential development.