IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section B
Abstract
Historically, architectural models are significant artifacts that demonstrate professional architecture practice. Publications such as ‘Model Britain the architectural models of 20th century dreams’ uses historic models in the Thorp Archive to demonstrate the development of the built environment and provide an insight into the processes used in architectural practice. Current industry practice heavily uses 3D printing technology to create plastic architectural models. Industry archives, museums and private collections now face new challenges to conserve these 3D printed plastic models. An example exhibition and publication – Zaha Hadid Architects: Evolution (2018) illustrates the adoption of 3D and digital modelling techniques. Objects displayed in this exhibition demonstrated how 30-year-old 3D printed plastic architectural models are now at risk of degradation, discolouration and disintegration. This presents new challenges concerning the identification of the materials used, and how best to conserve and maintain these important examples of architectural heritage. This study uses observations on the condition of the 3D printed Zaha Hadid architectural models made in the 1990’s. Followed by analysis of the environmental conditions for storage to stabilise these artifacts and prevent further degradation. This research provides recommendations for architectural modelmaking practice and how 3D printed models can be treated to best preserve these important artifacts for posterity.
Dr Jonathan Burgess specialises in sustainable plastics and materials innovation. His research at Arts University Bournemouth focuses on creative technologies, design and innovation to support research in the Innovation Studio. With a PhD in Sustainable Product Design from Aston University, his industry experience includes leading development projects from prototyping to global product launches, earning multiple patents for his innovations.
Dr Erato Kartaki is a Research Fellow in Heritage Science at the PlastIC Research Centre at the Arts University Bournemouth. With a background in Conservator of Cultural Heritage and Digital Humanities, she specialises in additive manufacturing for cultural heritage use, digital methods for capturing, analysing, preserving, and restoring artefacts and monuments, and material analysis for cultural heritage applications. Erato has also worked as a conservator on projects for the Greek Ministry of Culture, as an educator at King’s College London and as Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, contributing to the Digital Skills Network in Arts and Humanities.
Professor Christian McLening is the Director of the Plastic Innovation and Curation Research Centre and Director of Research and Development at Arts University Bournemouth. He is Chair of the Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP) steering committee and leads the Creative Technology Research Group based in the Innovation Studio. A Chartered Technological Product Designer (CTPD) with the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) Christian has a specialist focus on research and design development, working closely with industry and academic partners.
Dr David Lund is a historian of models and modelmaking and a Senior Lecturer at AUB, with particular interest in the development and implementation of the theory, history, and critical thinking. A trained architectural modelmaker turned historian of the discipline, David’s research specialisms include the history of architectural modelmaking, the relationship between making, design and material culture, and the nature of models as epistemological tools. David’s work studying the history of architectural modelmaking is currently centred on the cataloguing and interpretation of the Thorp Modelmaking Archive.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday 27th June, 2025