Of course, one of the main materials used in the buildingindustry is concrete. This is usually precast or cast in situ,depending on the design, cost and sequence of construction adopted. It can be a useful exercise to test design componentsby working with the actual materials directly, where available. 1.Softwood blocks are cut atsuitable lengths, to be
In the modelling sequence below, it is possible to see thedifferent stages of the design process for the developmentof the form of ARCAM, Amsterdam, by René van Zuuk. Thesculptural shape of the design is evolved through a processof contouring a piece of plasticine from a basic trapezoidalblock to a much more
This 1:100 full-detail section model of CanaryWharf Underground Station was made at Amalgam Modelmaking Ltd and includes featuresright down to posters, adverts and tube mapsmounted on the walls. Commissioned by LordFoster for the Norman Foster Foundation, themodel was specifically built to be displayedalongside models of other signature buildings by the practice. The highly detailed 3m long modelwas finished in
Plaster is an inexpensive and interesting material toexperiment with as it affords the modelmaker theopportunity to produce model bases and components thatincorporate topography and textures during the castingprocess. It may then be worked on further using knives,sandpaper or paints depending on the desired finish. This method has an almost limitless range of possibilities but
The use of clay as a modelling material is long establishedacross a range of creative disciplines. For the purposeof architectural models, clay has often been used tosculpt three-dimensional ideas quickly and to investigateform – especially organic forms, which may be difficultto model in other materials. Perhaps more than withany
Cast materials are typically very malleable, and thisadaptability is retained to various degrees depending onthe particular material and how it is subsequently treated.This category includes materials such as clay, plasticineand plaster – the latter also commonly known as gypsum.Modellers only usually work with one of these materialsin a model at a
Acrylic has several advantages and therefore allows a numberof design opportunities when making models. Because itis available in transparent or translucent varieties it can beplaced over printed images to enable layering of furtherinformation in a model. This layering may be further enhancedby CNC cutting and etching (to which the material responds well),
Using plastics and styrofoam to convey sculpturalforms, Coop Himmelb(l)au have explored thefracturing of architecture and the amorphousnature of the contemporary city for a number ofyears. Key to their philosophy is the dynamismand concentration of spatial qualities that arevisibly manifest in their designs. This agendabrings with it a need to communicate suchaspirations, and the use of plastics and
As it is a thermoplastic material it has excellentthermal ductility, making it highly flexible and thussuitable for a variety of applications. Furthermore, manyof the varieties manufactured are ideal for representingglass and other transparent building elements. Theirsurfaces can be modified, for example satin matt effectscan be achieved by grinding
The variety of processes for which wood may be used inmodelmaking is ever-increasing due to the development ofCAD/CAM techniques and the integration of these with moretraditional methods. Using manual tools is comparativelystraightforward but care should always be taken when usingany tool and appropriate safety gear should be worn at alltimes. In