Another high quality marketing model for national house builder.

A major part of our work involves producing sales models for housing developments and this is the latest off the production line for one of our regular clients, a national house builder for whom we’ve created dozens of models over the last 15 years. Typically these types of housing models are at 1:200 scale but because this was a large site with over 350 plots we had to drop down to 1:250 scale to keep the model at a manageable size for the sales office. If you click on the two smaller images to enlarge them you’ll see that there is still plenty of recognisable detail at this small scale so that customers get a clear appreciation of the house and garden they’re considering buying. The model is still awaiting some final details like cars and figures which will be added once the client has checked the model over.

Large sales model at 1:250 scale. 

At 2.7 metres long by 2 metres wide this is one of the largest, housing sales models we’ve ever made. The project started off as a phase 1 model only but then the client decided they wanted to market phase 2 and 3 at the same time so asked us if we could model the whole site in one go. With just under 500 units on a complex sloping site this became a 3 month project and we just managed to meet the launch day deadline. For portability and ease of working, the landform is in 4 sections that butt together on a purpose built plinth. The Perspex cover however, was a one piece unit and we had to take a large window out just to get it into the sales office. We’ve got two other models on the go for the same client but thankfully they’re both more manageable sizes.

Fully interactive model for Notting Hill Sales.

One of our existing clients recommended our services to Notting Hill Sales which lead to us producing this fully interactive sales model for one of their major developments in London. The interactive element allows touch-screen controlled illumination of individual apartments with floor plans visible on screen and various filter options such as number of beds, aspect, availability, etc. Due to limited space in the marketing suite, we had to use a smaller than usual scale for this type of model which made it much more tricky to build in the wiring and individual apartment lights. The client asked us to create a “ghosted” but recognisable representation of an existing on-site building so our solution was to model it in clear acrylic, but still replicating a lot of the building’s architectural features – you should be able to pick this up in the photos.

Demand is high for residential marketing models.

We’re producing a steady stream of housing models at the moment as more and more developers are realising how effective they are as a sales tool. This latest project was the second model we have produced for this client and at 1:200 scale was a particularly large model at over 2m long x 1.2m wide. For larger sites like this it’s helpful to show plot numbers in gardens or, in the case of apartments, on the roofs of the buildings. If you click on the left inset pic above to enlarge it you can see an example of this in the photo. We’ve currently got two other housing models in production and a couple more in the pipeline. But just for a bit of variety we also have two industrial models on the go which need to be shipped to Munich in mid-June. It’s looking like a busy Summer for us!

Riverdale Developments discover models help sell!

They say good things come in 3’s and that’s certainly the case for Riverdale Developments for whom we’ve just completed our third sales model in less than two years. The company first tried using a sales model in early 2016 when they commissioned us to produce a high quality marketing model for their Fairways site in Sussex. It worked so well they came back to us for a second project in early 2017 and we’ve now recently completed a third model, hopefully with more to follow later this year. All three of their models were at 1:200 scale which is the ideal option for small to medium sized developments because it allows us to show a high level of detail without the model base becoming too big to be practical.

Small scale, white styled model – Scale 1:750

Over the years we’ve produced many of these white styled models because they’re ideal for presenting a clear overview of large spread out sites, such as this proposed school development. The monochromatic styling keeps the costs down and the small scale keeps the model base to a compact, portable size – approx 800mm x 700mm in this case. Despite the small scale, we are able to show a high level of detail on the buildings including clear acrylic for windows. This model is going to be used for presentation to the planning authorities and for a public consultation exercise. To see another example of this type of model, see “Cricket Ground Development – Jan 2012” blog.

 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.

Six models head off to St Petersburg

Commissioned for a Russian developer, this group of six models all had to be designed to fit into large standard suitcases so they could travel out to St Petersburg as normal luggage. This necessitated choosing a small scale and making the models as sturdy as possible to withstand the rigours of both UK and Russian baggage handlers. The white model is for a proposed Sailing Club and is at 1:750 scale. It also incorporates battery powered LED illumination. The full colour models are at 1:300 scale and show five proposed designs for luxury holiday dachas.

Saint Petersburg Marina – Scale 1:750

One of the most significant features to note about this masterplan model for a proposed marina development in Saint Petersburg is the high level of detail that can be achieved at this very small scale. Not one of the buildings on this model is more than 35mm tall. And just for good measure and for added impact they all had to light up at the touch of a button. The model was built on a very tight schedule and shipped off to Russia (in a purpose-built flight box) to be used the centrepiece of a major presentation.

Planning Application Model – Scale 1:750

This is another excellent example of how clear and informative a 1:750 scale model can be, despite the main building being less than 50mm tall. The proposed new building is made to a surprisingly detailed level with crisp representation of the architecture, including window fenestration. This style of model is quick and relatively inexpensive to produce but the clean, fresh appearance has charm and clarity, which goes a long way to help sell a scheme.

 Olympic Countdown Clock

With just over 12 months to go to the start of the Olympics, we were asked to create 7 of these Olympic Countdown displays for the reception areas of a large organization's main offices around the south of England. It was a major challenge, particularly as we only had two and a half weeks to complete the project. The client's concept design for the display was not very practical to build, or to use, so the first thing we had to do was create a new, simpler system that would allow the boxes to be easily and securely positioned in the different number combinations. Our solution was to incorporate clear acrylic "hooks" on the backs of the boxes that could be universally fitted into precisely positioned slots on the 2 metre high acrylic back wall. It was simple, neat and unobtrusive and meant the client could do the repositioning themselves for each month's number change. I'm pleased to say, all seven displays were delivered on time and on budget, and the client was delighted with how they looked - let the countdown begin!

Conservatory Sunroom Model – Scale 1:15

Made for a company that specializes in high quality conservatories, this detailed model needed to reflect the product’s elegant design and high levels of finish (inside and out). The model’s primary purpose was to act as an eye catching display at shows and exhibitions to help attract potential customers to the company’s stand. To give it a bit of extra “sparkle” we incorporated battery powered working interior lights which you can see in one of the inset pics. As a further complication, the model also had to be made strong enough to withstand conventional courier delivery to central Scotland where the company is based. The client was really pleased with the finished model and is currently planning further models of some of their other designs.

GlaxosmithKline Factory Model - Scale 1:75

The brief for this model was to create a 3D internal view of this GSK production plant which produces Penicillin for the pharmaceutical industry. The company frequently show visitors around the facility and felt they needed a simple visual illustration of the complex internal layout of the building. Our solution was to create this stylized 3D representation of the plant with the building floor plates in clear acrylic so that the viewer could appreciate, at a glance, the vertical and horizontal layout of all the major industrial components involved in the process. At 1:75 scale, the model is just over 2.4 metres long so it can be easily viewed by a group of people, making it an ideal starting point for a tour of the building.

Creating the model involved deciphering and rationalizing a huge volume of technical drawings so that we could design a pared down representation of the main production equipment. A crucial part of this process was keeping an ongoing dialogue with the client to make sure we were interpreting the information correctly. The client was extremely pleased with the final result and has in fact commissioned “Phase 2” of the project which involves adding further levels of detail plus some of the external plant and storage vessels that weren’t required for the original model. They have also indicated that they will require further similar models of other buildings plus an overall site model of the whole facility. So all in all, we’re looking forward to building a healthy relationship with GSK!

Exhibition Wall Display

This large wall display is actually a 3D realization of a 2D visual that was designed by the client’s in house graphics team. They asked us to make 3D version of the image so that it could be mounted on a wall at an exhibition to act as an eye-catching focal point for their stand. Made from Perspex and other plastics, some with painted and lacquered finishes, it is almost 2.4 metres wide and makes quite a visual statement with its strong colours and curved reflections off the shiny spherical surfaces. The client has since mounted it on the wall in his reception area.

Custom Designed Furniture

We were commissioned by Cardiff Castle to design and build these bespoke pieces of furniture for use in their new visitor centre. The three items are an Art Trolley (for storing craft materials), a Puppet Theatre, and a Costume Rail. Standard versions of this type of furniture were available through catalogues but the client asked if we could design and build some unique, original pieces that reflected the nature of the building and its historical links with craftsmanship and detailed design (William Burgess). Each of the units is based on a distinctive element of the Castle architecture and is built from Oak faced Ply to co-ordinate with the existing wooden finishes in the Visitor Centre. The client was so pleased with the results they have very kindly agreed to let us feature their comments on the Testimonials page of this web site.