Workshop 1 Blog: Model It

Week 1 Activities

In Studio Task: Merging Houses

 The first in class studio task required us to construct an 80mm x 80mm simple house out of either balsa wood, or whitecard. This first house, which i made from balsa wood was rather simple consisting of only a base floor, four sides and a roof. Since this was the first genuine modelling experience for me using these materials i found it difficult as i was yet to acquire any skills in model making. I was using weaker pva glue and my cutting technique were nowhere near as neat as they needed to be. Since my glue was weaker i had to use an excessive amount to hold the house together therefore leading to excess dried glue covering all house joints which made the house look like an overall 'rough job'.

 The next part of this task was to create a replica 80mm x 80mm house but out of a different material and this time creating 3 holes within the design with thought into these holes as to how the two house could later be merged. I modelled my second house out of whitecard which i found easier to work with than balsa wood since it was thinner and therefore easier to cut. Since this was my first studio experience my thought process was still quite simple so the holes in my house were a simple door, window and sunroof; being unable to think abstract enough at this point in time. I discovered through my second house that by using tape i could hold the pieces of the house together which the glue dried, therefore creating a 'net' for the house. 

 The final part of this task was to merge the two house together through the created holes in the second house. I once again struggled with this abstract concept and resorted to flipping the balsa wood house and positioning it on the roof of the whitecard house to create a diverse and symmetrical look like a windmill or chimney. I connected the houses using tape and glue and positioned the combined structure on a whitcard support structure to elevate the houses off the ground. I then created a ramp to link the doorway of the whitecard house to the ground, therefore giving the whole structure a kind of tree house effect.


Take Home Task: Barcelona Pavillion (Scale 1:200)

 The first take home presentation model for this workshop was to replicate the Barcelona Pavillion out of balsa wood. We had to rescale given plans of the pavillion in order to model our 1:200 model of the pavillion. I manually calculated the dimensions of the building through mathematical calculations instead of rescanning the plans at the right scale which may have been more time efficient. I purchased all of my balsa wood from a local Bunnings Warehouse store and used uhu glue this time which made my modelling a lot cleaner and stronger at the joints.

 A problem i encountered during this exercise was the difficulty in cutting the balsa wood into desired shapes. I was working with 3mm balsa wood as i thought it would make the structure stronger only to discover after the task that this thickness was at least double the thickness of balsa wood i should have been using. As a result my cuts were messing and my balsa wood was chipped due to required excessive pressure. I had to also draw the stairs in instead of model them due to my chosen balsa wood thickness. I created a flip top roof for my model and connected the joint with tape instead of leaving the roof unconnected which would have been accepted since i thought the roof still had to be connected to the pavillion at some point.



Week 2 Activities

In Studio Task: 3 Process Models

 This studio task required us to use a given shape to be the starting point to an idea of abstract models which progressed over time. This task was limitless in the concept and model we could come up and required a lot of initiative. Since i still couldn't comprehend the idea of abstract thinking i simply used the shape given to form the sides of my modelled structure. Since the shape reminded me of a leaf i intended to create a 3d leaf. I used thinner 2mm balsa wood which i later discovered was still too thick to create my model, leaving the ends open to create a two story open leafed structure was small portions of wall to connect to sides and keep the structure standing.

 My next progressed from the idea of symmetry within my first model. I thought my first model was too simple so tried to create something a bit 'out there'. I cut the giving shape symmetrically in half and used the two halves to form the sides of an Indian-American Tee-pee. I formed a based and back wall out of balsa wood but left a caving hole at the front to form the entrance to the Tee-pee. Through my second model i started to discover that my cutting skill was increasing and that my joints were becoming cleaner through becoming more familiar with my chosen Uhu glue.

 My third and final process model showed further progression of my conceptual idea of an Indian-American Tee-pee. Instead of creating a basic Tee-pee i used half of the given shape (side wall of process model two) as the base of my final model. I then modelled the rest of the Tee-pee without any thought as to why as was modelling it the way i did; trying to think real 'out there' and abstract. The only condition on my idea was that it was virtually completely enclosed except in places which allowed light in. This time i used 1.5mm balsa wood which i discovered was the best and most efficient thickness to use, therefore creating a model which looked clean cut and had very clean joints through a method of using thin cut sticks of balsa wood to apply glue to model pieces.

Take Home Task: Site Plan of Fisher House (Scale 1:200)

 This task required us create a 1:200 site plan model of the Fisher House. We had to model the property from the road at the top of the hill all the way to the bottom of the property where the river ran. I used 1.5mm balsa wood for most of the model including the land and the house itself. The enable the land to climb as required i created a stair like structure out of foam board and balsa square legs under the layers of balsa wood which acted as the main support for the structure. This therefore saved on the need for excessive balsa wood and achieved the same effect. This design also allowed a single piece to span the width of each contour line, therefore ensuring further neatness.

 The road, river and base of house were left as black or white foamboard and the layers of balsa wood were built around them; therefore leaving a hole for the Fisher House to sit in once modelled. The Uhu glue once again proved very efficient and successful the lack of detail required made the structure easier to model. Nearby trees and further detail on the road were modelled through thin sticks of balsa and i was only to realise later that using real sticks would have saved time and been more aesthetically pleasing.



 Week 3 Activities

In Studio Task: Section of Fisher House Detail Model (Scale 1:50)

 After completing the site plan of the Fisher House we now had to model the Fisher House itself at an enlarged scale of 1:50. At such a large scale this model would require a larger amount of detail and understanding. The aim of the studio was to ensure we all understood the concept of a detail model and to ensure we could successfully complete our main submission of a completed Fisher House detail model. During this studio we were given sections to the living area of the house at the scale of 1:50 so we could visualise the size of the overall model and the most efficient way to model it. We were able to make our own choice of material but i chose to stick with balsa wood as i felt most experienced and comfortable with this material. I discovered that cutting out windows of the building is a difficult task and required repetitive gentle cuts to ensure no splitting of joints and overall neatness. This studio enabled me to visualise spaces more in a realistic way due to the large scale of the model which in no doubt helped me complete my final presentation model.



Take Home Task: Completed Fisher House Detail Model (Scale 1: 50)

 This final presentation submission of the Fisher House at scale 1:50 would reflect all of modelling skills and improvements made throughout the workshop. We were given the plans to the entire house which we had to rescale and then model along the same lines as the in studio task. The main core of the model was 1.5mm balsa wood as specified above and the entire model was built in its levels to ensure simplicity of modelling.

 The base of my model was foamboard to ensure the strength of the whole structure and i left the levels of the house unconnected to enable it to be pulled apart and examined within. Uhu glue was the only glue used and it was quite difficult to ensure all parts of the house lined up exactly to express it as one structure when put together. I included a substantial level of detail within as represented within the plans and created the basement out of boxboard since it is of a different material and situated below the ground. Box board was also used for some finer details such as the chimney to ensure it was easily understood and separated from the main structure itself. This model took by far the longest to produce so the key to successful completion was good planning in the method it was to be constructed. I did not use the model from the studio as part of my final submission as this model was used only for experimental purposes to ensure I was well directed in purpose and method for the final presentation model submission.