I have just updated the website with a couple of recent projects for architects. The more recent of the two was finished just a couple of weeks ago, and is a context model for ICA. The model covered a part of the old town of Edinburgh, providing context for the architects development. 

Although the model is fairly small (roughly 580 x 400mm), and at 1:500, it was a pretty complex model to built, due to both the topography of the site and the variation in buildings across it. Grassmarket, which is the street at the corner closest in the photo, was the lowest part of the site. The Royal Mile was the highest street level, more than 30m above Grassmarket, and the church spire is the highest building in Edinburgh. In addition, George IV Bridge runs over a couple of other streets in the model, adjacent to the site, so it was critical that all of this context was accurately modelled. The buildings on the model varied from small 3 and 4 storey tenements to some which are 8 or 9 storeys, and frankly, it was hard to believe I hadn’t made a mistake with the scale!

The purpose of the model was to demonstrate that the architects development fitted well within the context of the site, which I think the model definitely shows. Adding the detail to both the development and the surrounding buildings shows the size of the new build is appropriate for the site.

It was a really enjoyable model to work on, it’s an area that I know reasonably well, and feel that I know much better now!

The other model I have added to the website is Whitchurch Gardens, which ran on-and-off over much of last year. The original brief from StudioKAP was for a model of an existing house and the surrounding nine houses on the street, as well as an interchangeable section with the proposed new build. 

As the architects and their client worked on the design, and met with local planners, Finch & Fouracre were asked to produce further sections with the evolving design. In this way, the model was both a design tool and a presentation piece, which helped in getting planning permission for the house towards the end of 2015.