White styled model of proposed college buildings
This white styled model was used to illustrate a proposed design for a new college. The white styling was chosen deliberately so as not to be too specific about material finishes – these were to be finalized at a later date. 1:400 is quite a small scale but it is ideal for a site model because it allows us to show a wide overall area on a fairly compact base. And if you click on the images to enlarge them you’ll see that, despite the small scale, we can still show plenty of informative detail that invites close-up inspection and therefore engages the viewer. This was one of two models that formed an overall presentation. The second model (which will be the subject of my next post) was a larger scale sectional model focussing on the building’s main architectural feature, the central Atrium.
Marketing model for development at Gloucester Cricket Ground
This large model was commissioned as a marketing tool for a prestigious development of high quality apartments at Gloucestershire County Cricket Ground in Bristol. At 1:100 scale the model was almost 2 metres long and certainly made an eye catching centrepiece for the their marketing suite. The model also features internal illumination and external fibre optic uplighters to give it even more impact. This is actually the second model we have made of this development as we actually produced a smaller scale white model last year to help secure planning permission for the project (link below).
Realistically detailed model of Europe’s new space observatory
Having already made several models of Britain’s UKube satellite we were pleased to get this new commission for a model of the European space Agency’s latest spacecraft being launched in October this year. As you can see from the images, large areas of this spacecraft are composed of different coloured, highly reflective fabrics and we needed to replicate the uneven, shiny character of these materials on the model. We also had to create a representation of the optical bench (complete with concave mirrors) inside the main body of the spacecraft. It is hard to see in these photos but it is just visible through the “window” openings. Since completing the model, we’ve actually been commissioned to produce three further copies for the UK Space agency.
Waste Treatment Process model at 1:200 scale
This is the second major project we’ve completed for the blue chip pharmaceuticals manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline who demand the very highest standards from all their suppliers and sub contactors. The previous model, a 3D representation of their penicillin manufacturing plant, was used as an orientation tool for visitors to the site. This new model demonstrates how the company harnesses biogases from their waste treatment process to fuel a newly installed Combined Heat & Power facility. The colour coding of the pipes indicates the different stages of the treatment process. You’ll notice they have also installed a large wind turbine on the site to further demonstrate their commitment to sustainable energy. This is a static model but GSK have asked us to update it later this year to include a touch-screen information panel linked to interactive illumination on the model.
For Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
1:750 scale is ideal for a masterplan model because it allows you to represent a large area, such as a town centre, on a reasonably compact base but at the same time the buildings are large enough to appreciate storey heights and general massing. This particular example is approximately 1.8m square and includes over 20 removable panels for the redevelopment zones. This allows interchanging of different options so that each development proposal can be viewed and assessed within the overall 3D context. The clients were delighted with the finished model and indeed, one of the councillors wrote to us personally to say “I would like to once again thank you and all your colleagues for doing such a great job.”
