Maybe you’ve seen them… Those immaculately detailed models of Museum Plaza that have been on display for years since the project was first proposed? Well, it turns out they were built by one of the world’s most preeminent model builders, Vincent de Rijk, from Rotterdam (the same location as Rem Koolhaas’ OMA HQ before REX went out on its own).
Archinect sat down with de Rijk to chat about his model making background, and what do you know, a photo of the Museum Plaza model under construction popped up. The interview is a really quite fascinating glimpse into the world of architectural model-making. Here’s an excerpt from Vincent de Rijk himself:
For me, it’s important to find the simplicity in the project and to find what the main characteristic or feature is…something that you can take away from it. Rem is also able to do that in his descriptions. If he talks about a building, he can make a really simple description about it…and that’s what a model should do. Knowing too much background information makes it confusing. It should be an object. That’s what I always try to make. Of course it’s a representation of a building, but it’s also a representation of an idea.
Check out the entire interview here.
- In The Modelshop: Vincent de Rijk (Archinect)
