THE SHORTEST HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURAL MODEL MAKING

From old ages the scale image is a mean to verify and validate the architectural idea on its way to reality. It is used to physically represent not only exterior but the structure of an object. This three-dimensional vision of an object is a tool to find better and the best solution. This creative function of a model corresponds with its key role of a communicative mean, a clear and convincing expression of space reality. This is proved everywhere in the world design history.

Some of the first known models of dwellings and cult buildings were discovered in Tripillian Culture (Cultura Cucuteni) regions in Ukraine. These artifacts of 3000 – 6000 years BC were discovered in excavation researches.

There are ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia houses and temples models discovered in excavations, too. These artefacts are dated from 4th or even 5th millenium BC. Aristotle and Archimedes testified the model making practice in ancient architectural design technologies of IV-II BC.

Some ritual and architectural models of ancient India and China represent this art and technology in oriental civilization of X-XII BC and earlier.

There is a unique archaeological artifact of the times of pre-Columbian America – Saivite (Sayhuite stone). It is a scale model of a town with a functioning irrigation system. Presumably created by the craftsmen of the Inca Empire in the X-XV century BC, this model is carved from a solid granite boulder with a diameter of about 4 meters. It is assumed that mercury was used for accurate modelling of hydrodynamic properties of water.
There is a fairly questionable version that this model is much older – it probably was made by high-tech civilization before the Inca Empire at the time of construction of monuments of polygonal masonry.

In the Renaissance, despite the new powerful visual expression means (the development of linear perspective and painting technology) architectural model making is not neglected, but rather experiencing some progress. Starting from the middle of the XIV century the archival sources mention the Italian architects involving sculptors, woodworkers, carpenters in model fabrication. In Italian Renaissance period many masterpieces objects were created – scale models of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Floremce.

A significant contribution to the development of model making art of craftsmen who worked on the French fortification complex layouts during the XVII-XIX centuries is not forgotten. The main purpose of these artefacts was planning and reconstruction of the fortification structures. From the total amount of more than 260 models a hundred still exists.
These maquettes were made mostly in the same scale 1:600, some of them have reached the area more than 150 sq. m. Thanks to the patronage of the King Louis XIV, they were carried out with the highest quality and careful detailing, many of these models are considered true artworks.

In the late XIX century the peak of development of architectural model making is represented in works of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. His models was a tool to research structural engineering problems. Static calculations based on morel researches examining possible loads impact helped to construct the Famous Sagrada Familia in Barcelona – one of these best cathedrals in the world.

Now, at the age of CAD technologies and 3D graphics architectural models still are a key element of the presentation of the projects – the main, most clear and convincing argument.