Two unusual projects to brighten up February

As well as our run of the mill (if you can call them that) projects, we often get asked to make unusual objects such as the oval “magic” mirrors and the twin Tipi model shown above. The mirrors were commissioned by an artist for an installation in Italy and had to feature the famous “Mirror, mirror on the wall…” wording in raised gold script. The Tipi model was produced for an events company who wanted to illustrate the exciting and inspirational space created by the twin tent set up.

 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!

David Cameron views two of our models

A few days after completing these two white styled models we were surprised (and pleased) to discover they had been the focal point for a presentation to David Cameron about the Swansea Lagoons tidal energy project (apparently they couldn’t tell us beforehand for security reasons). The models are both at 1:1000 scale and show two different areas of the lagoon structure. The largest model shows the leisure facilities where the lagoon wall joins the mainland whilst the small model shows where the turbines generate electricity from the twice daily rise and fall of the tide (the Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world). If you click on the images to enlarge them you’ll see that even at this small scale (1mm represents 1 metre) we can show a high level of detail.

Housing models for national developer    

We recently completed these two sales models for a national house builder, both at 1:250 scale to keep the base sizes reasonably compact. We usually do these sort of housing models at a slightly larger scale (1:200) because it allows us to show plenty of detail but when space is an issue 1:250 scale is a really good option. Although the detail has to be slightly simplified you can still get a good feel for the architecture of the houses and a good overview of the gardens, landscaping and general layout of the site. We’ve been producing these sorts of housing models for almost 25 years so we really know what looks good and helps give the buyer confidence to buy when there’s little more than a muddy building site outside the sales office. We’ve actually got two more of these housing models nearing completion for the same developer with several other sites coming up in next few months.

Rain Making Exhibition Model

For this particular project we were commissioned by a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical company to design and create an exhibition model that demonstrated the unique properties of their rail-track ballast stabilization system. The key feature of the product was that it bonded the ballast together whilst still allowing free drainage between the individual stones. This free draining aspect was the product’s major advantage and the display had to illustrate this in a visual demonstration. It also had to be compact and portable as it would be travelling to exhibition venues all over the world (the electrics needed to be compatible with multinational power systems). Our solution was to create a “Rain Machine” that showed a sample of the client’s product (using clear stones rather than conventional ballast) under a continuous deluge of water, set within a Perspex tank. The clear void underneath the ballast showed the “rain water” draining freely into the collection tank below where it was pumped back up to the header tank at the top to continue the cycle. This image shows the model without the water running for clarity. Since this picture was taken branding graphics have been added and the model has gone off to its first venue     in Germany. We’re hoping to add some on-site “in action” shots at a later date.

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