An Educational Blueprint - Architectural Models In A Museum Setting

Architectural models are used in museums all over the world as educational tools to show visitors a building in its entirety on a smaller scale. From the Taj Mahal to a Native American Village to the interior of the Alhambra in Spain, architectural models are a great way to show museum visitors a building in fine detail so that they can understand it, whether or not they have ever seen it in real life.

An architectural model is a scale model that is a physical representation of a structure. It can be constructed from wooden blocks, cardboard, foam board or other materials and they are commonly used by architects and interior designers to present ideas and plans. While models are used in the commercial world when architects are explaining a design concept to the building team or meeting with engineers and planners, or when developers are selling a home, they are also used as show pieces in museum exhibitions as scale replicas of historical buildings.

Architectural Models in Museums

Architecture models are found in museums throughout the world, in addition to the other work in the museum’s collection including paintings, drawings, sketches, sculptures, blueprints and more.

For example, when the South Kensington Museum was first established in 1857, it had in its collection more than one hundred architectural models. These models were acquired through loans and gifts and they made up a significant part of the collection. This included models of buildings and monuments from the West as well as the Far East and Asia.

In almost every museum that you visit today, you are likely to see at least one architectural model. Perhaps it is showing a famous modern day building or a historical structure or perhaps it is a recreation of what a building might have looked like that doesn’t exist today. These models will usually be labelled with informational plaques that supply information about the history of the building, its inhabitants and the specific story behind its significance. They might also be populated with cars, animals and small people, going about the typical behaviours of the people from that setting and time period.

Scale Models Offer Educational Benefits

The benefit of a scale architectural model in a museum setting is that it conveys a lot of information about the subject matter in a very small surface area. On a table that is only a few feet in diameter either way, a scale model can depict an entire cathedral, castle or longhouse. The model can contain a lot of interesting detail and the accompanying plaques can aid visitors in understanding what they are seeing.

For example, a scale model of the Tower of London can be found within the Tower of London itself. The model is used to show the layout of this historical site, something that is difficult to understand when walking around it at ground level. Visitors are able to recognise the site and see it from a “bird’s eye view”. This can help them better understand why the Tower and its fortifications were constructed in the way they were back in 1078.

The Future of Scale Models

Museums are now becoming more and more technology based and dependant on touch screens and videos. Therefore it is questionable whether we will we see a decrease in the use of architectural models for educational purposes in this way or will we instead see technology add new layers of interest to the classic architectural model. It is already possible to create interactive models linked to touch screens that light up when the appropriate button is pushed, so perhaps technology and models will combine even more to create an educational experience that will captivate and inform museum-goers.

Paula Whately is a writer who understands the importance of using architectural models to display the layout of a building in its entirety on a small scale to help educate and inspire. These models are used widely in museums and are also important tools used often by architects.