Stacked contour model for a landscape scheme
A 1:1000 topographic model for a landscape project, with the existing terrain in layers of cork and the proposal picked out in birch plywood.
- Sector
- Topographic
- Scale
- 1:1000
- Size
- 80 × 60 cm base
- Client
- Landscape architecture practice
- Location
- Spain
- Lead time
- 3 weeks
The brief. A landscape architecture practice was designing a public park on a hillside, with footpaths, seating terraces and a water feature. For client meetings and community consultation, they needed a model that showed the existing landform and the proposed design at the same time.
How we built it. We worked from the topographic survey in DWG. At 1:1000, a 2 mm sheet of cork equals 2 m of height, so we grouped the contours at 2 m intervals and laser-cut each layer. The layers were stacked and glued onto an MDF base, with the stepped edges left visible because they make the slope easy to read. The proposed footpaths and terraces were cut from birch plywood to stand out against the cork; the water feature is clear acrylic, and neighbouring buildings are simple white blocks in foamed PVC. The north point, scale bar and space names are engraved along the edge of the base.
The result. A warm, legible piece in which anyone can tell at a glance what is there now and what is proposed. It is light and compact enough to travel in a car, so the practice takes it to every meeting.
See other terrain and relief techniques on our topographic models page.