The selection of the materials to be used to make amodel depends on its purpose, the stage of the designprocess and how quickly it needs to be constructed. Inorder to determine which materials are appropriate, it isimportant, as described above, to think about the levelof abstraction and the scale required. If a model is to berelatively abstract, it makes sense to make it out of onematerial and focus on the form and mass of the design.A single material can often be manipulated and treatedin different ways, so this does not necessarily limit theappearance or level of detail. Monochromatic models arevery common in architecture, made from either woodor white cardboard. However, once the initial choice ofmaterial has been made, a modelmaker then needs toconsider whether additional materials will be used toproduce a more representative model of the building.The combination of different surfaces, colours andelements is a time-tested method of making architecturalmodels, but care should be exercised to communicatethe most important features of the design and avoidunnecessary information
The arrangement or composition of its componentsenables the construction of a model to be an adaptableand a highly useful tool for design development, asmany of the assembly processes simulate those madein reality. Combining materials in order to emphasizetheir contrasting qualities and make best use of themrequires considerable experimentation, and modelmakersshould be encouraged to explore the use of novel, ‘found’materials as well as to recycle packaging and othereveryday objects in the search for appropriate materials. Just as is the case when laying out a drawing, thoughtneeds to be given to how the model will be composed.With this in mind, there are a few basic issues that shouldbe considered before the process of making commences.Firstly, what physical scale should be chosen and howwill this best relate to the level of detail required in themodel? Secondly, is the proposed project to be centredwithin the overall model – or are there reasons as to whythis would not be the most suitable position, for example:specific contextual features? Finally, what are the desiredinterrelationships between components in terms ofcolour, proportion and material that will communicatethe design ideas in the most appropriate way?
