In the age of digital modeling and rendering tools, an often overlooked and underappreciated medium is the architectural model.
A form of three-dimensional sketching, physical scale models help designers visualize the effects of light, space and form in a way digital tools simply cannot. Physical models are inherently tactile, help build material intuition, and in many ways is a teaching and learning process—which all contribute to efficient, creative and thoughtful designs.
We sit down with Philip Li, model maker at Benoy Hong Kong, to find out why architectural models persist in the digital age, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and some of his most beautiful, tangible pieces of art.
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