Architectural Model Making - Model Bases + Scale : An Architect's Guide (part 4)

hi Eric here reserved a 4d design workshop back with part four in our model making series in part 4 we'll briefly touch on choosing a model scale and quickly move into the need for model basis and it's week you can implement that will make your models more convincing this section is rudimentary and intuitive for architects and probably most students so feel free to skip ahead but scale is an important early decision the scale is simply the ratio of model measure to reality when we decide to build a 1/4 of an inch equals a foot model we mean that every foot in real building terms will be equal to 1/4 of an inch in the model or put it another way 1/4 of an inch in our model represents one foot in reality so an 8 foot long wall in a 1/4 inch scale model would be 2 inches in real terms scale and the amount of a building site you'd like to show will determine the actual finish size of your model keeping models to a manageable size will make the entire building process faster more enjoyable and less resource-intensive how much of the surrounding context is really important choose sensible bounds for your project scope if your structure references or relates to a specific site feature include it if it's not important don't small scale models those in the 1 to 500 all the way up to one sixteenth of an inch equals a foot are typically used to display exterior form and determine a building shape or how it interacts with the setting the site other structures highways or public spaces these models describe broad brush architectural form making at the other end of the spectrum architects might use large scale models to look closely at day lighting scenarios or specific material connections stairs windows perhaps an important structural detail larger scale models permit one to more easily envision the real experience of space what skylights might do for a room or how it might feel to walk on a glass cantilevered floor for my custom residential work I'll often build 1/8 and 1/4 inch scale models depending on the love little detail required what design phase I'm in what I'm hoping to show or what I'm trying to resolve early design decisions building forms for example are better resolved at smaller scales while details and fenestration are morally easily tested at 1/4 inch scale use the size of your building to determine the scale you'll build from for residential design anything smaller than 1/8 of an inch scale just isn't a useful design tool for me once you selected a scale and define the actual size of your model you'll need a proper base model bases are necessary and practical extensions of your architectural model they anchor it in space and provide context like a picture frame a good base completes the model emphasizing what's important and even simple abstract ones clarify design motives the visual weight of the earth represented by a strong base is more convincing than a structure glued to a floating plane because it sets the scale of the architecture in proper proportion to the enormous and uninterrupted mass of the ground were accustomed to think too of the base as an extrapolation of the models intent and design vision all sites have sectional components architecture must address this this can be changes in elevation topography public infrastructure connection subways pedestrian walks and always a foundation sites are rarely flat and so I encourage you to conceptualize your model base in layers rather than how most new model builders treat the ground plane as simply the bottom of the model this rather unrealistic representation has the effect of depicting the whole world is flat and of limited dimension instead treat the ground plane as if it were the center of your model construct your model both above and below this central datum this simple tweak will force your design to engage with the earth and your site in real terms for me this inspires new approaches to excavate to explore to incise and remove even if the final model takes an entirely agnostic view of the ground plane in the end beginning this way ensures you leave no stone unturned along the way this is approach combined with a substantial base has the added effect of raising the model up more closely aligning the scale horizon with the viewers eye level this of course is the most familiar aspect to us as we move through the world not the more commonly employed bird's-eye view looking down from above to represent topography you'll need a contour sight plan the interval of which will correspond to the materials you'll be working with opting for a larger contour intervals will yield a more abstract sight but involves less cutting although it's slightly less accurate it's not a bad trade-off of your time which could perhaps be better invested into your design scribe out the extents of your model based on the master site plan and begin cutting the bottom most contours for large elevation gains consider using less material by cutting the contours only as large as you need to cover the next higher layer support these contours with foam or cardboard blocks the stability of a fully layered contoured model is excellent but it can add up quickly if you're using materials like cork for these situations the plan to cover the trickery with an edge banding of wood masonite chipboard or museum board now here's a micro tip don't glue your contour layers together especially early on and perhaps maybe never fitting your model to a contoured site involves removing layers and lots of test fitting keeping the layers separate is sensible as it allows non-destructive alterations use pins as registration points to maintain alignment while you work bullying can often work materials to making for unsightly bases now for urban environments constructing adjacent buildings will supplant your contour cutting if possible I prefer painted XPS foam or wood blocks over building shelves out of chipboard for blocking massing this can work quite well any level of detail will require to use the more labor-intensive exercise of cutting chipboard search Pinterest for images of models you admire and as they say steal like an artist now bases need not accurately render landscape elements like trees grass shrubbery boulders outcroppings and the like but it's not a bad idea to understand how these textures and objects will affect the adjacent architecture or experience of a place in general I would save the hyper-realistic modeling of sites for the model railroad and would abstract them in a meaningful way in your architectural model however anything can be a source of inspiration and for my work sight gestures are very important and important enough to at least consider modeling them here's a few suggestions for trees and vegetation whisk brooms wire super trees birch twigs dowel laser cut paper tree canopies fuel wool lichen sponges landscape elements helped set the scale of a building just as figures or vehicles might now base materials size will determine how much of a given material you'll need and consequently the finished cost your material choice doesn't have to be precious though corrugated cardboard the thick varieties used for packing are very useful and they can achieve a wonderfully convincing sight typography model if the cuts are crisp there's XPS foam expanding foam in a can which is great for rocky sites plaster soap gauze crumpled craft paper aluminum screening cork museum board and probably the most common basing material chipboard wood Homa so MDF masonite and plywood all require a more robust set of power tools to work with but a simple linear MDF base is one of my favorites and can be used in many situations when you're at a loss for what to do please don't use foam core if you want to know why you can watch part two of this series all right color vs. monochromatic models realistic effects on a model base have the tendency to focus the eye away from the architecture and onto the site and surrounding context if this is the gold color can be really helpful it's also helpful for setting the mood for example if you've drawn inspiration from the red clay of a site this is a convincing reason to represent it in your model hyper realism tends to draw a hyper realistic critique and forces a jury to focus on things you may not be prepared to defend for a built-up earthy effect try acrylics mixed with joint compound water putty or modeling paste spread a thin mixture with a putty knife on the model base - similar an abstract earth or use layers of spray paints for a model defect this can quickly transform a dull model and open up design avenues not previously considered tried art green or black and see what opportunities arise if it's a fail I've found that ivory silk and shell white by rust-oleum mimic fresh balsa quite convincingly if color isn't necessary to tell the story of your design it's difficult to go wrong with a monochromatic color scheme whites and browns are neutral and unassuming yet they often appear a little too pristine perfect and an abstract departure from reality Gray's will tend to punch up the shadows and emphasize typography blacks are aggressive and moody they can also affect our perception of scale which can be an interesting tool used for good too right natural woods might emphasize design inspirations of material selections just as when selecting materials for your architecture the materials for your model and base should be intentional if contrast is your goal juxtaposing gray and natural wood for example is a fantastic marriage look for ways to narrate the story of your architecture with the base you choose how can your base amplify your design ideas in subtle and overt ways if you're sharing a model among peers there will undoubtedly be a base plate you'll have to position your model on however don't let this keep you from making your own base your base plate can fit into the group site model but also into a separate more elaborate base that you've designed one that explores the vertical sectional properties of the site right apply your creativity to all aspects of model making with equal vigor as your architecture lastly I want you to remember that your model based should be congruent with the level of resolution of your model an unarticulated cardboard rectangle representing your structure in a realistically rendered site will leave the jury thinking you spent more time replicating reality than you did designing your project always opt for the opposite and spend more time on your architectural model than the surrounding environment so I hope these tips have been helpful I hope you go ahead and make an elaborate model base that emphasizes your architecture and tell the story about the design Cheers

Channel: 30X40 Design Workshop

Views: 93,131

Keywords: how to, architecture, howtoarchitect, model base architecture, how to make a model base, architects site model, architecture model scale, architect model scale, architectural model making, architecture model making, architectural model, realistic architectural model, architecture model, architecture models, model making architecture, architect model, architectural model bases, architecture model base, how to make a scale model building monochromatic, model making workshop

Id: hRckOk1_tCg

Length: 11min 17sec (677 seconds)

Published: Fri Feb 10 2017