The practice of designing / communicating architecture through the use of scale model has been slowly disappearing from practice, existing mainly in the early years of architecture courses. The advancement of digital workflows has resulted in fast and accurate methods to model digital forms. While this has been a wonderful development for the profession, one could argue that it has come at the cost of modelling practices.
Two recent projects in our office have inspired us to develop physical models to communicate form for varying reasons. One is a project that was cancelled just before construction commenced resulting in the ideas being lost to the digital archives. We were determined not to loose the hard work that went into developing the project to full documentation. A detailed BIM of the building exists, but in this form, it cannot be experienced or viewed by the general public in a meaningful way. A physical model, while vastly simplified in detail, will communicate the project in physical form for all to see.
The second project is a one where we are proposing a form that is in contrast to it’s surrounding built environment. The project is a community building surrounded by residential forms. Our proposal is to express this shift in function through a shift in form. While this idea can be expressed in sketches and 3D renders, a physical model can instatly demonstaigt this idea clearly to all viewers - including those not familiar with digital communication methods. Everyone gets a model.
Recognition goes to our hard working team, Julia Tsukimori and Richard MacMillan who are developing the models. Working images below:
