Exhibition | 1:100 | Jun 2021

Display model

Casting light on an architectural idea

At AART architects I was tasked with making a display model of their newest 28-story building with a cooperate program. The physical model is 120cm tall and lit from an internal core of LED-lighting and opaque acrylic.

The base and internal structures are cut from MDF board and the lower facade from a mix of plastic sheet, cardboard and two layers of birch veneer. The upper structure has an intricate system of alternating V-shaped panels. The fabrication and assembly of which were the main challenge. After lots of testing, I found a solution of 3D-printed sections which were then glued, painted, and mounted onto the MDF and plastic sheets.

Before assembling the outer facade, I decorated some of the floors with people, plants, and furniture. The baseplate is a mix of MDF and layers of styrofoam, which was then painted with the same white silicate paint as the facades. A finish that I have come to really like, as the matte and grainy texture leaves a surface that almost mimics plaster. It is easy to apply, while still allowing for subtle directional gestures from the brush. It’s very versatile and I have used it on both study, sketch and presentation models.