MAKING YOUR OWN ARCHITECTURE MODELS IN COLLEGE

By Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu
Check out my professional profile and connect with me on LinkedIn.

(SRM University, Chennai India) Final Review leading to award of M.Arch Award  (left-right: Kosi, Ifeanyi, Eze)

Making your own Architecture models while in college is something that is possible if you really want to do it. Making physical models for Architectural presentations is a tradition in Archi-school. this is because from the standpoint of curriculum, it is possible for a student to complete his design work as well as make a good physical model of it. But the thing is , we dont always have the time and skill required to do so.

Because of this, 80% of the models presented at design reviews are not made by the students. They are outsourced to third-party artisans who are sometimes also Architects, Archi- students or simply artists. There is a constant dialogue by College Authorities on whether Architecture students should be allowed to out-source their project models to third party artists, or do it all themselves. Though the Authorities often do not take this too seriously, It remains a grey area in Architecture colleges.

In my time, I was able to do all my models myself, or at least domestically,(with the help of few friends at home) and a few more models for other colleagues (mostly junior). They were all neatly done and delivered timely which proves that it is possible.  If I did it, You can do it, and even BETTER!.
As for the skill, I can say you just pick it up after your first few tries, ( thats assuming you are serious and reading this because your really interested in trying to do it yourself).

But the time?...from the book : 'Learning to be an Architect' we learn that the key to making it has always been starting early. Here are a few more tips on 'how to get your own physical model done in good time' for your presentation.

1. Understand that it is cheaper and more rewarding to do it yourself:

left-right, Eze, Ifeanyi and Kosi

You know that glorious feeling attached to a finished task coupled with the fact that you'd have saved yourself a fortune. This understanding will encourage you to try at least. even when you feel it is too tough. If I did it, Am sure you can!

2. Start Early to Finish Early:

No matter how big or complex your present project is, the age long trick has been to begin early. Once you are concrete on the design, go right ahead and commence the model.

3. let Work Proceed Simultaneously:

Don't assume that you must finish paper work, before you begin the model. Both can proceed at the same time. yes! you can begin with choosing a suitable mount board size for your model, decide on the scale early enough and start with the landscape features. You can do this over a stretch of time, smooth and steady. decide on how much work you will do in a day, and make sure you finish that much. Note that this doesnt have to be too much at a time, the review is still weeks away. so u can just make that entrance lawn, one night after your bored of drawing on your computer and the rest subsequently.

NB:the trick is that: a combination of these singular efforts will culminate in a complete paper work as well as physical model by the presentation date.

from left: Kosi handing over to Karthi (a model done by Everest Okoro)

4. Bring in Extra hands wherever/Whenever possible, but stay as close as possible to avoid errors.

Friends and junior colleagues can help you a lot when you have a design presentation coming up. The friends because they are really thrilled by the fact that they can actually help out in something that seems so technical, and also because they love you. And Junior colleagues because they need to build the relationship and experience by learning from seniors.
The right mix of these two groups of persons, can get your work the speed it needs. Just stay around enough to monitor what they are doing. Mistakes might be costly.

Eze's Model, M.Arch Final review

and a few more technical advice:

1. Use very sharp cutting surface such as tiles or glass, to make it faster and easier.
2. Always have as much replacement blades as possible for your cutting knife and change them often, to ensure sharp cuttings edges
3. Always cut in a straight line, from start to end, never cut in a zig-zag  or back-and- front  pattern. this ensures there are no woolen edges.
4. Mix colors that do the work for you, faster.
5. employ computers when ever you can e.g, take a second print of the floor-plan, instead of measuring directly from the base.
6. Never apply Gum directly on the model, instead you may use a syringe for applying gum to very tiny edges, to avoid smudging the gum all over the work. Be careful with the syringe however, for health reasons.

ADVERT:
IF YOU NEED A MODEL MAKER TO DO YOUR COLLEGE MODELS FOR YOU AT CHEAPER AND TIME EFFICIENT WAYS, PLS CONTACT CADRIGHT NIG.

COUNTRY-HOME PROJECT ISUANIOCHA

by Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

Country-Home Project Isuaniocha

Country-Home Project (2) Isuaniocha

A vast country-side residence for a wealthy business man, under construction at Isuaniocha ,Anambra state, Nigeria.

The abundant land size allowed for adequate spacing of property and provision of luxurious swimming pool and lawn tennis court.

The main house features , a pronounced entrance porch, one small and one larger double volume family living room, two large en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor and other utility spaces. In all 7 large bedrooms are provided excluding a private pent floor accessible only from the master bedroom.

An 80sq. m conference hall and a gym of the same size is provided together with a 3 bedroom flat, as the guest area of the villa. Other Attraction include beautifully landscaped surrounding and an environment that spells peace.

Country-Home Project Isuaniocha

Country-Home Project Isuaniocha

Project Drawbacks:

The client was one of a kind, seemed to know what he wanted but had too many advisers which led to hassles between the design team ( Great Marks) and the building firm, this led to minimal adjustments from original design, from which Great Marks is completely exonerated.

Design Software: Autocad, Revit Architecture, Lumion 3D

RENDERED WALKTHROUGH

by Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

 

Basically, I put together a few building models from Revit Architecture around my Skyscraper project, and made a rendered walkthrough.  my first shot at the software; Lumion, after which I fell in 'Happiness' with it.

SKYSCRAPER PROJECT

By Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu.

 Skyscraper project by Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

This skyscraper project is personally my best project so far - (if we are allowed to have favorites). There are many reasons for this. The large scope is one, followed by the many challenges which I had to overcome to produce it.

1. STRUCTURAL ISSUES: 

The major one was resolving the structural workings, because being a mixed use building, the shopping mall dictated a different arrangement of floor- system while the offices and residences could easily follow the conventional  columns-walls-floor system. I needed to have an atrium in the shopping mall to allow for improved vertical visibility of shoppers and shops between floors. This meant natural light also had to be thrown in from the top of this atrium, which naturally would be covered or at least have that possibility in case the building needs to be air-conditioned (which is usually the case these days).

skyscraper project  -siteplan

 Naturally, This would not be an issue if it were just the shopping mall, the tough bone came in because I expected to have about 50 more floors above it. Anyway thanks to the semi outdoor lounge I introduced on the 6th level, which allowed me to throw in natural light through glazing and reflective glasses placed strategically to send down light into the main shopping space. and a combination of tube and frame structural system with a heavy RCC Shear wall at  the building core coupled with a streamlined shape which blessed  me with a stable wind-friendly  structure.

 

2. VERTICAL CIRCULATION:

Next was Vertical circulation. How to resolve all the movement within the building beginning from the basement parking lots, to the shopping space, to the offices and finally to the residential levels.

lifts..yes definitely. 

Skyscraper project-Architectural section

but what type? what capacity? who can get on it? where? and waiting time? were issues.

 

3. ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

Designing in a period when the whole world has attention on energy saving,leaves you an imperative task of making sure your building saves as much energy as possible. This was a constant concern as my design developed. ·    Use of photo-voltaic glass panels on the exterior skin lets in ample daylight as well as captures solar energy for passive use in the building.
·    Use of broad overhanging eaves provide sun shade through the facade 
and also fitted with solar collector panes makes the facade virtually a solar  farm.

 

4. MECHANICAL ISSUES:

Skip-stage water supply provides for less energy consumption and  water for fire fighting and domestic/office use. Service floors are provided after every 10-12 floors. 8 service lifts are provided to serve the entire building.

Office lifts              = 2.00m wide by 1.63m deep; 3,500 pounds (20 nos.)
Residential lifts       = 2.00m wide by 1.28m deep; 2,500 pounds (4 nos.)
Commercial lifts     = 2.00m wide by 1.63m deep; 3,500 pounds.(7 nos.)
Service lifts            = 1.60m wide by 2.525m deep; 4,500 pounds.(8 nos.)
capsule lifts            = 1.63m wide by 2.4m deep; 4,500 pounds.

 

5. AESTHETICS:

This was frankly the last thing I paid attention to. I needed to make sure the building was functioning perfectly in all the earlier issues, before worrying about how it looked. In fact this form truly followed the functions. However, when the time came to model the form I tried to make it look as simple as possible but elegant.

No doubt, My supervisor was overwhelmed at how I was able to articulate all the functions , materials, and energy issues and still had a nice looking form. He happily awarded me an A' as well as a special mention to the staff and students.

 

ABUJA SATELLITE TOWNSHIP MODEL,NIGERIA

Residential layout of Abuja satellite township (Academic Proposal)

by Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

The task of creating Sustainable Satellite Township for Abuja, Nigeria (academic proposal) is finally crystallized in design and policy form. Although yet an academic exercise by Nigerian-born, Indian- based Architect Kosi Emmanuel, it is expected that the research findings would be relevant in tackling the socioeconomic challenges facing the Nigerian capital city such as increasing population due to growing middle income workers as well as sky-rocketing house rents and security issues, to name but a few.

The design approach embraces social, economic and environmental sustainability. It's SALIENT FEATURES include;

·    Phased development, having sustainable districts at each phase.(the plan provides for a ten year duration and is expected to cater for about 100,000 persons from population projections based on existing growth rate). 

each district would have its own light industrial zone which can comfortably employ its residents.
·    Residents can live, work, play, shop, school and worship all within 1/4 mile radius of reach.
·    Surrounded by green belt of farmland which helps reduce the effect of urban heat island effect generated within the city.
·    All districts will be properly connected with inter-district bus route as well as outer ring road.
·    Car parking is located in close proximity to all blocks but on the peripheral to reduce atmospheric carbon within living areas.

·    Different neighborhoods have varied block arrangement for easier identification.
·    communal play grounds provided between districts encourage social interaction, foster peace and unity and ultimately reduces violence.
·    central park is a landmark icon of the township and a great tourist attraction point for the town.
·    individually identity of each transit node improves city imageability.
·    central park landscape allows for love/family, sports, entertainment and politics as the major elements of social exchange.
·    65% of total Urbanized area are Open spaces and parks which are a distinct element in the design.
·    elimination of the traitional grid iron pattern and its attendant thorough fare traffic
·    and replacement with the super block model.
·    provision of private as well as communal green spaces
·    shared communal facilities encourage social interaction and are cheaper to maintain
·    turn to alternative revenue sources
·    carless community thus less carbon emmision
·    cultural and  promotion through football
·    provision of well connected service roads and cycle and pedestran ways
·    a fine blend of the garden city concept, and the neighbourhood planning concepts with le crbusiers city centralisedbusiness district model.

·    The maximum walking distance for pedestrian to every bus stop is 1/4 of a mile (400m) in 15 min indicated by circles in broken Lines.
·    the entire town is surrounded by an outer ring road which is a four-lane bus and other vehicles route, which can also accommodate a metro line if need be, in future.


·    Major Bus-stops are 1km apart, Metro stops are 2km apart.

·    Green ways connect residences to outer ring road.

·    Four major nodal points each have a distinct landscape pattern which add to city imageability.

·    One could walk from one district to another around the city on foot, under shade.

·    Pedestrian bridges are provided where foot path meets major road; to ensure pedestrians safety.

More details will be available for your download and review soon.please feel free to contact the Architect of this modern solution to Abuja population overspill.