Overview model and detail model.

The original brief for this project was for a small, easily portable model of a typical noise barrier installation but as the project progressed the client realised how useful it would be to also have a larger scale model showing a single barrier section. This would allow the salesman to point out small but important structural details that improved the overall performance of the barrier, not just for noise reduction but also to reduce the pollution levels from vehicle exhausts. We were happy to accommodate this extra requirement and even managed to adapt the original travel case to fit both models (see above pic).

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.

Massing model for proposed arena development.

This stylized model was commissioned to illustrate the massing and general character of a proposed arena development next to a football stadium. The actual development site was made as a removable panel so that a more detailed model of the proposed new buildings could be inserted at a later date. If you look at the overhead view and click on the image to enlarge it you’ll notice that the roof of the arena building was modelled with a semi-transparent “mesh” so that you can see the basketball court and seating inside.

Model for luxury spa resort in Northern Ireland.

The purpose of this model was to illustrate the proposed new accommodation, gardens and spa facilities at this top luxury hotel in Northern Ireland. The client, who had just won a major award, was hosting an industry event and felt it was important that the delegates should see what the new facilities would look like once the building work was finished. It was a challenging project for a number of reasons – the complex topography and landscaping, the numerous cabins, walkways and water features and, not least of which, the fact that the design was still being finalised. On top of this there was a very tight schedule of only 3 weeks to turn the project round. We got it there with a day to spare and, by all accounts, the model was very well received by everyone involved.

Roof terrace presentation for our 6.5m x 5.5m city model.

Four years ago when we built this giant masterplan model as the centrepiece for a Cardiff marketing suite, little did we know that it would become one of the most “travelled” models we’ve ever produced. We’ve set it up at numerous different local events, three locations in London and even a major property show in Cannes. This latest outing was for an important presentation on a roof top terrace of the new BBC headquarters in Cardiff city centre. The building was actually still under construction so we had to negotiate our way past all the different trades working on site when we brought the model in. Luckily for us, the weather was good, as you can see from the pics, and no seagulls came in to land on our scaled down version of Cardiff Bay. The model is now back in its usual location until the next time it has to go on its travels. We don’t know where that will be but wherever it is, we do know the sky’s the limit for our Cardiff City model!

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Another high quality housing model for national house builder.

Taylor Wimpey, one of the largest home builders in the UK, have been regular clients of ours for over a decade and this project was one of three sales models we’ve made for them in the last eight months. At 2.2m long x 1.7m wide it’s an extremely large model so they had to allow plenty of room for it in their sales office, as you can see in one of the pics above. For big developments like this, 1:250 scale is an ideal choice because it allows us to show a good level of detail without the model base becoming too big to be practical. This was an especially challenging project because, apart from having over 350 units, it was also a steeply sloping site which meant we had to accurately model all the levels and contours, including steps, embankments and retaining walls in virtually all the gardens.

Second model for London based property managers.

We produced a model for this client two months ago and they were so pleased they instantly came back to us for another one. This model of one of their recently refurbished buildings is at 1:100 scale which allows us to show a high level of realistic detail, including the original salvaged signs which you can see in a couple of the images. At only 400 mm square the model is very compact so adds a unique, eye catching feature to their offices without taking up too much space. It also leaves room for a third model, we like to think!

Two-sided educational puzzle for Cardiff University.

These multi-coloured 2D puzzles are part of a set of six commissioned by Cardiff University to help teach young students about different parts of the brain. They wanted a puzzle based on an existing, brightly coloured 2D diagram so we suggested creating the sections from layers of different coloured 5mm thick acrylic. This meant the pieces were self-coloured all the way through, rather than having a painted or printed finish which could chip, and we were able to to laser-engrave thin vein lines on the front faces and labels on the backs. We also laser-cut the profiled trays from two layers of white acrylic and created small cardboard folders to protect the puzzles when not in use. The client was delighted with the finished puzzles and plans to order more in the near future.

Stylised  internal view of manufacturing plant.

The brief for this project was to create an eye catching but very stylized representation of this proposed factory layout. The client didn’t want too much detail because many of the manufacturing processes were confidential. At approximately 1.2m x 1m and 700mm high, this was a large, technically challenging model that needed to be strong enough to withstand frequent shipping to trade shows and exhibitions across Europe. We added strength by building in steel reinforcement for all the major components which were then fixed through to the underside of the structural base. We also supplied a Perspex cover and sturdy white plinth that could be “flat-packed” under the model in a purpose-built, high quality flight case.

Accurate topographical model for public consultation.

This 2.5m x 2.5m model was commissioned as part of a public consultation process for a proposed development just off the M1. Comprising 6 A0 sized sections, the purpose of the model was to demonstrate how high embankments and landscaping around the site would screen it from surrounding villages. For this reason it was important that the proposed on-site levels and surrounding topography were all accurately recreated. The buildings are only shown as massing blocks due to the small scale (1:1250). Each metre is represented by just 0.8mm, so that the 16 metre high commercial buildings shown on the model are only approx. 13mm high.