reporter2
28-08-12, 11:18
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/archive/tuesday/specials/property/building-model-homes-20120824
Published August 24, 2012
Building model homes
Architectural models are important sales tools as they help buyers visualise the scale, design and orientation of a project
By tay suan chiang
IT is 10am and for the next eight hours, a group of five men are building a four-block condominium project. They have been working on this for the past three months and have another two weeks to complete it.
No, this is not some condo being completed at break-neck speed. Instead, welcome to the world of architectural model-making, where miniature condos are the norm.
Visit any condominium launch and apart from the glitzy showflat, potential buyers are shown an architectural model of the development.
Such models are usually built to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100, and come with life-like detailing, such as little ceiling lights on the balconies, tiny people on the jogging track, and miniature tennis courts, swimming pools and trees.
Richard Nah, senior manager of MCC Land (Singapore), which recently launched One Canberra executive condo, says: "An architectural model is an important sales tool for projects where sales activity precedes the project obtaining its temporary occupation permit. The architectural model helps buyers to effectively visualise the scale, design and orientation of the housing project."
Completing an architectural model can take from a few weeks to months, depending on the size and complexity of the model.
Ho Weng Kong, sole proprietor of Modelcraft Centre who has been making architectural models since 1954, says that unlike artist's impressions, which are two-dimensional, "models are 3D and allow potential buyers to visualise the development better".
To the average person, architectural models may look like toys and the mini people lounging by the pool are cute but a visit to model-making studios will show that it is hard work.
"The height of the apartment blocks, down to the colours used on them, the amenities and even the landscaping have to be exact and conform to how the completed project will look," says Joshua Goh, director of Ceris Media whose firm built the architectural model for One Canberra.
Model-makers build the models based on technical drawings provided by architects. The model-makers have to make sense of the lines in the drawings as those lines indicate the elevation of the land and where the buildings and different amenities are to be placed.
"The challenge is how to turn a 2D drawing into a 3D model," says Eddie Loh, manager at Integrus Model.
Model-makers use plastic, PVC and acrylic sheets to build the apartment blocks and windows, and sponge is used to create the landscaping. Miniature lamp posts, furniture and people are usually sourced overseas, from companies that specialise in these items. Cars can be bought from toy stores, or if they are minuscule, they have to be made by hand from tiny pieces of plastic.
"The tiny people usually come in white, and we have to spray colour on them," says Mr Loh.
As it is important to get the dimensions accurate down to the last millimetre, model-making firms rely on laser-cutting machines to cut the materials to size.
The labour-intensive part is assembling the model which has to be done by hand. Each piece of plastic is held together by a special adhesive. "For example, sponges are air-brushed in different shades of green and then grounded into tiny particles to create tree 'leaves', and the plastic pieces have to be assembled into buildings," says Anthony Goh, general manager of GAC Enterprise.
Depending on their scale and complexity, architectural models can cost from a few hundred dollars to as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Some parts of a model, such as the cars and people, can be re-used in other projects. "But it is not possible to reuse the buildings and landscaping as each project is different," says Mr Loh, who, when possible, keeps a single block of a project for his own reference.
"As the models are not used any more after a project launch, some companies are not willing to spend that money, but at the same time, without an architectural model, it is difficult to sell a project," says Mr Ho.
Still, he feels deeply satisfied when a model is completed. "I see them as pieces of art," he says.
GAC's Mr Goh, who has been in the business for 30 years, says humbly that "model-making is just to make a living".
But many clients have no doubts about the value of an architectural model. MCC Land's Mr Nah says: "The important role of such architectural models is evident in most housing projects as they invariably occupy a somewhat central location within the sales gallery."
He adds: "Most developers would invest in such architectural models as they also have a longer shelf life than showflats during the sales cycle. At some point, the showflat will have to be torn down to make way for construction, but architectural models can be relocated to an alternative sales location for extended use if necessary."
Published August 24, 2012
Building model homes
Architectural models are important sales tools as they help buyers visualise the scale, design and orientation of a project
By tay suan chiang
IT is 10am and for the next eight hours, a group of five men are building a four-block condominium project. They have been working on this for the past three months and have another two weeks to complete it.
No, this is not some condo being completed at break-neck speed. Instead, welcome to the world of architectural model-making, where miniature condos are the norm.
Visit any condominium launch and apart from the glitzy showflat, potential buyers are shown an architectural model of the development.
Such models are usually built to a scale of 1:50 or 1:100, and come with life-like detailing, such as little ceiling lights on the balconies, tiny people on the jogging track, and miniature tennis courts, swimming pools and trees.
Richard Nah, senior manager of MCC Land (Singapore), which recently launched One Canberra executive condo, says: "An architectural model is an important sales tool for projects where sales activity precedes the project obtaining its temporary occupation permit. The architectural model helps buyers to effectively visualise the scale, design and orientation of the housing project."
Completing an architectural model can take from a few weeks to months, depending on the size and complexity of the model.
Ho Weng Kong, sole proprietor of Modelcraft Centre who has been making architectural models since 1954, says that unlike artist's impressions, which are two-dimensional, "models are 3D and allow potential buyers to visualise the development better".
To the average person, architectural models may look like toys and the mini people lounging by the pool are cute but a visit to model-making studios will show that it is hard work.
"The height of the apartment blocks, down to the colours used on them, the amenities and even the landscaping have to be exact and conform to how the completed project will look," says Joshua Goh, director of Ceris Media whose firm built the architectural model for One Canberra.
Model-makers build the models based on technical drawings provided by architects. The model-makers have to make sense of the lines in the drawings as those lines indicate the elevation of the land and where the buildings and different amenities are to be placed.
"The challenge is how to turn a 2D drawing into a 3D model," says Eddie Loh, manager at Integrus Model.
Model-makers use plastic, PVC and acrylic sheets to build the apartment blocks and windows, and sponge is used to create the landscaping. Miniature lamp posts, furniture and people are usually sourced overseas, from companies that specialise in these items. Cars can be bought from toy stores, or if they are minuscule, they have to be made by hand from tiny pieces of plastic.
"The tiny people usually come in white, and we have to spray colour on them," says Mr Loh.
As it is important to get the dimensions accurate down to the last millimetre, model-making firms rely on laser-cutting machines to cut the materials to size.
The labour-intensive part is assembling the model which has to be done by hand. Each piece of plastic is held together by a special adhesive. "For example, sponges are air-brushed in different shades of green and then grounded into tiny particles to create tree 'leaves', and the plastic pieces have to be assembled into buildings," says Anthony Goh, general manager of GAC Enterprise.
Depending on their scale and complexity, architectural models can cost from a few hundred dollars to as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Some parts of a model, such as the cars and people, can be re-used in other projects. "But it is not possible to reuse the buildings and landscaping as each project is different," says Mr Loh, who, when possible, keeps a single block of a project for his own reference.
"As the models are not used any more after a project launch, some companies are not willing to spend that money, but at the same time, without an architectural model, it is difficult to sell a project," says Mr Ho.
Still, he feels deeply satisfied when a model is completed. "I see them as pieces of art," he says.
GAC's Mr Goh, who has been in the business for 30 years, says humbly that "model-making is just to make a living".
But many clients have no doubts about the value of an architectural model. MCC Land's Mr Nah says: "The important role of such architectural models is evident in most housing projects as they invariably occupy a somewhat central location within the sales gallery."
He adds: "Most developers would invest in such architectural models as they also have a longer shelf life than showflats during the sales cycle. At some point, the showflat will have to be torn down to make way for construction, but architectural models can be relocated to an alternative sales location for extended use if necessary."