The Architecture Centre welcomed the Shape My City cohort to their last session before summer, focused on architectural model making. In a jam-packed session, the group built edible structures, heard from Chris and Anthony of Amalgam, and created their own scale models of a site next door.
Part one: warm up
Participants walked into a feast of possibilities. Laid out on the table was a huge array of edible building materials: from ice cream cone turrets to Shredded Wheat insulation, chocolate finger cladding and everything in between! After looking at images for inspiration, they were asked to create landmark pavilions from their edible bounty!
Using icing sugar 'cement' to bind the materials together, the groups created a fabulous array of structures, with sources of inspiration varying from ancient Aztec temples to the animated world of Wreck It Ralph.
As well as being a fun and tasty start to the evening, the warm up activity was a great way for participants to begin to consider the importance of 3D models in expressing design ideas.
As well as being a fun and tasty start to the evening, the warm up activity was a great way for participants to begin to consider the importance of 3D models in expressing design ideas.
Part two: inspirers
Chris began by
explaining his path to a career in model making. An artistic teenager growing
up in Northern Ireland, his choices of both GCSE and A Level subjects were
geared towards arts and design. From school, he went straight to art college in Belfast to complete his foundation year. However, after being
unsuccessful in his application to study for an undergraduate degree in ceramics, he found himself working in a shoe shop.
Relatively uninspired,
he began to look on jobs boards for alternatives: it was here that he found a
card advertising for a 3D maker, with no experience required. Until this point, unaware that model making was a profession, Chris had stumbled upon what has
become his career. After working for several years in Belfast, Chris decided he
wanted a change of location and moved to Bristol. He described knocking on the
door of Amalgam to ask for a job; he has now been at the firm for 20 years!
Anthony’s route to the
career was slightly more straightforward. Interested in architectural
model-making, he attended an open day at Arts University Bournemouth.
Determined that this was the career for him, he spent his foundation year
diversifying his portfolio with architecture and model-focused work and gaining
work experience in the industry. His hard work paid off, and he was accepted
onto the course. Before he had
graduated, he had a job offer for a three-month position at 3D Create in
Bath, after which he moved to Amalgam.
Chris described his
incredibly varied working days, which could involve almost any stage of the
model-making process: editing and manipulating designs in CAD, researching
materials, laser cutting, liaising with clients and architects, constructing
models and spray-painting were just some of the tasks mentioned. As a CAD
specialist, Anthony’s workdays tend to be more computer-focused. Within
Amalgam, they said, the work days of individuals depend on their preferences
and skills.
Both mentioned that,
compared to film and television work, built environment model-making is a more
stable career. Whilst conceding that sometimes deadlines mean working overtime,
Chris and Anthony emphasised the possibility of having a relatively stable
workload and working week as a benefit to the career.
They described the
best parts of working in model-making as working with creative people, gaining
insights into lots of different industries, developing camaraderie among the
team, and having a sense of satisfaction after successfully completing a
physical model. The main challenges cited were frustration: both with physical
models (when they don’t fit together properly) and with clients (when they
change their mind). Favourite projects included a detailed 3m long section of
Canary Wharf train station, which used many different making processes, and a
conceptual model of a living bridge.
Their closing advice
to participants was that they were going to be working for a long time, so that
they should trust their instincts and choose something that they enjoy.
Part three: design challenge
Amy then introduced the design challenge: filling the unused and overgrown space between Arnolfini and the Architecture Centre. First showing a 1:50 wooden model of the site, she then invited participants to go outside and inspect the area.
Groups were then
asked to create designs to fit into the empty space in the existing model, with
a particular emphasis on scale. They were also asked to consider the different
users of the site at different times of day and days of the week, and to think
about the potential of including a commercial element to their proposal.
The proposals were varied. The first group suggested a pocket parks, with soft landscaping, a fountain and hanging LEDs to create a haven in an area of town without much grass.
The second group’s
scheme focused on integrating the space with the pub that backs onto it, with a
raised and covered decking area for daytime seating that could be used as a
stage for live music in evenings and at weekends. In front of the decking would
be an open area with grass and seating.
The third group
presented the HarBar, an idea focused on creating a new bar area that brings
the maritime nature of the area into the site. They proposed re-purposing an
old boat and turning it into a bar and café, to be floating on a water feature
and accessed via bridge.
The final group came
up with the idea of a zen-garden, with a koi carp pond, yoga space, small
bridges and winding pathway. Their ideas were praised for considering the
well-being of the many workers and city-dwellers who have limited access to
green space in the vicinity.
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