FEATURED – Gemmiti Model Art

Category: FEATURED

One Santana West

The level of detail of a model is critical to balance for ultimate engagement. In this case, architectural details are subtle so it was important to interpret them accurately to truly experience the architecture. If you look closely at the building facade, you can see the very subtle setback of the glass behind the dimensional I-beam structure, which is more realistic and detailed compared to a simplified version where the I-beam detail at this scale might be scored on the surface and painted right on the glass layer. Landscaping with species-specific trees and plants, plus the tiny metal folding chairs further creates a feeling of being there and just adds life to a model.

One Santana West (snapshot)

To some, a model is a model. There are limitations to what can be done, depending on the scale. We approach the design of our models with the intention of pushing the envelope, breaking the mold of possibility in our field. Even though the scale of this model is relatively small with a roughly .375″ total distance between the ceiling and the floor above, we made it happen and the effect, combined with other minutely-crafted details and finishes, is exciting, inviting…next-level model making. Come back later to see high res images!

499 Illinois Street

499 Illinois is one of a number of new buildings being designed and developed specifically to support the biotech industry in the San Francisco Mission Bay Neighborhood. The project’s compelling architecture, it’s surrounding public park, and ideal location at the edge of San Francisco Bay formed the foundation for what would become a great collaboration between the City, developers, architects, and model makers! We were all present at the City Planning Board meeting in a show of support for the project. The members of the Board were impressed by this and, to greater degree, by the depth and clarity of detail in the presentation—a stellar ending! We at Gemmiti Model Art are proud to have helped gain approval for this project, not only though our model, but also through our Minority Business Enterprise Certification, which helped satisfy City of San Francisco diversity requirements.

Callaway Golf Kiosk

The challenge for this project, a tabletop point-of-purchase display for Callaway Golf Clubs, was meeting a tight deadline. Built in a week, while the designers were still perfecting the details, there was barely enough time for the paint to dry on the way to the airport before handing it off to the designers, who were hand-carrying it to a presentation in London. The rapid turnaround is all the more impressive because of the number of separate processes and different materials involved in constructing the model. We frosted, tinted, and heat-formed the bent green glass panels. We made master forms of the golf club heads and cast them, giving us an efficient way to fill the racks and enabling potential clients to get a feel for the design. The stand itself was sculpted and the aluminum frames were hand-painted. The hardware, integral to the design, had to be modeled to exact scale. Attaching the curved wood panels to the aluminum frames meant finding a creative solution to a design that required space between the frames and the panel. Even our choices about the logo were deliberate—we used metal etching instead of a painted logo to accentuate brand’s prestige.

California Pacific Medical Center at Cathedral Hill

Can you imagine a better tool than a scale model for rallying a community around a big hospital project? Hundreds of questions are instantly answered. The architecture is understood by merely walking up to the model for a closer look. Renderings are great, but will never deliver the same experience as a physical model. A model is made precisely to scale as a true representation, so there is no concern of forced perspective or other surprises later. This addresses a myriad of concerns from neighbors and city planning departments. The model was made from wood and acrylic with added touches of light to effectively pull you into the spaces as if you were walking within them, rather than just hovering above them. The design is modern, open, and inviting, which makes it easy for us to deliver a compelling piece of Model Art™.

Bucharest Central Stadium

This piece of Model Art™ was created for the Autodesk Design Museum in Boston. If you’ve never been to it or the one in San Francisco, schedule a Wednesday afternoon, when it’s open to the public, and prepare to be blown away. The museum exhibits the best of their CAD design production, the most cutting-edge technologies, and the widest range of physical examples (mostly models; many of them ours) that you can imagine. This model represents a small section of a stadium in Bucharest, demonstrating how the roof cable system works. The mirror is an added touch to give the viewer a peek at the entire span of the structure.

Computer Chip II

This Computer Chip patent model consisted of both vertical and horizontal breakaway sections. The solder balls were magnetized and removable. The green layer was translucent. Other material representations were accomplished by surface-painting acrylic. The acrylic used in the center detail was heat-formed and tinted to simultaneously allow view of the gray exterior and the detailed interior.

CBS Outdoor Bus Shelter

This is one of nine bus shelter models built for a design competition in San Francisco. At this large scale, we were able to make the shelters with a fair amount of detail and realism, which always helps in a contest. Each of the designs by Foster, Hydra, Stern, and IBA enabled CBS Outdoor to present several very well-thought-out alternatives. We chose to show this particular model by IBA because it looks as though we ‘dropped in’ the background. In fact, we were driving down Market Street when we spontaneously pulled over to a bus stop, got the right perspective, snapped the shot, and avoided a parking ticket!

CBS Outdoor BART Shelter

Successfully meeting the technical challenges of this project are what made the finished product so sweet. The tiny metal fittings and clean glass louvers running the length of the shelter had to be flawlessly assembled. Rows of uplights created spots and reflections that would reveal the smallest misalignment or imperfection in the glass (represented by very thin pieces of acrylic.) Hexagonal BART tiles fittingly framed the section of the escalator which descends beneath the grade. The digital iPod poster ad was lit with ELP (electroluminescent paper,) which enabled us to make it very thin and lit on both sides. The design was provided by Ian Birchall Architects.

Kuki’o Residence

The classic wood model is still preferred by architects who feel that the best way celebrate the beauty of design is to focus on the simplicity of its form. We routinely build models with accurate paint finishes and material textures, but it is always pleasant to return to the scent and feel of wood, as we cut and shape it. The challenge of building a great wood model is in the precision and fit of the parts as filling gaps in wood is not an option. Much satisfaction and appreciation is derived from the simplicity of clean fitting parts, such as the carved rock shapes that fit tightly, yet organically, against the formal stairs of this model. While there are equally simple ways to depict landscaping, this model’s budget allowed us to show planting texture much more realistically, thereby creating a contrast that compliments the wood and brings both aspects of the design to life.

Villa Romana Restaurant

All models have a purpose and this one served to honor a son’s gratitude and love for his father. The source of inspiration was the actual building of their family business, established in 1955. To avoid having the appearance of a toy, the materials used on this piece of Model Art™ had to be true scale replicas in every way. We used electroluminescent paper (paper that lights up!) and bent tiny rods to simulate the actual appearance of the neon sign. The wooden texture of the facade and the weave of the fabric are just the right scale to give the viewer a true sense of being there. We focused our attention on the colorful and bold character of the outside and added a personal touch on the inside: a photograph of Antonio’s father in front of the brick oven, where he always is, making the pizza.

Enphase Energy Solar Panel Displays

These pieces in the Enphase Energy exhibit were made to show that the inverter works with any manufacturer’s solar panel. We assembled two different ones and featured the inverter on the back under an LED spotlight, alongside an iMac. We then built round bases featuring an electrical connection fitting which allowed the units to turn freely.

Enphase Energy Exhibit

We started with a napkin sketch, jazzed up the shape a bit, and produced this dynamic display with chase LEDs. We added a series of custom-made components that would communicate the benefits of the product: a solar inverter (two pictured on the roof under the solar panels.) Our efforts contributed towards attracting a significant crowd to the Enphase Energy trade show booth.

LCD Monitor Components

A few different model making processes were employed in the construction of these components. The main structures were made of painted acrylic. The droplets of ink were CNC machined, polished, and tinted. The yellow form-fitting layer was vacuum-formed, then tinted. These models, like many technical models, were made to “break” apart, providing a clear view of the cross section and how everything fits together.

HP Store

We have worked with Beeline Group for many years to produce winning point-of purchase models for their presentations to companies such as Nike and Sony. This model was made for a design competition and, as with all competitions, the designers had to fast track their work concurrently with our building of it. There is nothing more gratifying than being part of an inspired team, carefully choosing the proper representation of every element. Rather than laser-scoring the pattern of the wood floor, we laid miniature planks, as you would actual wood flooring. The carpet was represented with perfect color-matched ultra suede, its texture at this scale being accordingly appropriate. The HP brand was creatively incorporated throughout the model with dozens of scaled down replicas of its products: digital cameras, printers, computers, and ink cartridge boxes. While Beeline used several excellent drawings and renderings to propose their concepts, the unveiling of the model and the excitement it created raised the bar for the other competitors. We were proud to be part of the winning design team.

One Hawthorne

One Hawthorne is one of the few new residential development projects built in San Francisco during the Great Recession. This model was detailed and elegant, complete with LED lighting and all materials represented in their proper tone and texture, bringing the experience of the completed project to the prospective buyers while the building was still under construction. This type of model is referred to as a “marketing model” as it is the centerpiece of a sales/marketing office for the project. How can you really explain to someone what a building will be like when it is done? Show them… in grand detail!

Forrest Day CD Art

Forrest came across our website and had a vision for the cover of his self-titled album. We welcome creative collaborations with all types of artists, so realizing this musician’s vision made the project and subsequent photo shoot fun, fast, and quite affordable. It helps that we save every sample and create pieces for rent, as well. We were able to quickly put together something that worked.

Apple Store Broadway

This is one of many models made alongside Apple’s designers and architects. The design standards are always very high and the construction schedules are inevitably very tight, but as anyone who owns an iPhone, iPad, or iPod (or simply steps into an Apple Store) knows, the end result is simple brilliance. We are honored to contribute to the design process and be part of the team. Thanks, Steve Jobs!

DeSilva Court, Hedgpeth

Reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, this beautiful home in Mill Valley sits, literally, atop San Francisco Bay. The developer/builder asked that we make this model “as realistic as possible,” and we welcomed the challenge, both aesthetically and technically. Features included the interior spiral staircase, fireplace, kitchen, exterior finishes and landscaping, as well as a modeled piece of the bay. Every color and texture was painstakingly selected and tested until it was just right: look carefully at the “bark” on the tree! Ron Marian, master model maker for over 35 years, was responsible for this great work of Model Art™. As a side note, this image was captured during an impromptu roadside photo session, on the way to the sales office!

Orchard Cottage at Carneros

Quietly hidden behind tall privacy walls, this shared-ownership resort development is a wine-country retreat for the rich and famous. Built for sales purposes, this model was a constant point of reference when sitting down with potential buyers before and after the walk-through of the actual full-scale cottage. Our use of real materials, such as wood siding and fine screen for the porch, along with painstaking attention to detail, are what distinguish Model Art™ from a standard scale model.

Nordstrom San Francisco Center Atrium

In order to commemorate events and holidays throughout the year, Nordstrom wanted to propose different hanging exhibits in its multi-story atrium space in downtown San Francisco. This model was created as a design tool which would enable them to test their ideas out. It is made of white paint finished plexiglass with laser-scored floor patterns. Simple glass handrails were installed throughout–just enough detail to convey a sense of actually being in the space.

Aortic Heart Valve

The smaller version of the two pictured here is a sample of an actual product at actual size. It is intriguing to discover the size of our aortic heart valve, isn’t it? It’s huge! In a way, this model looks much simpler than it was to actually make. Any time you start with flat parts that have to form into a 3-dimensional shape, it is a little tricky. Without wanting to reveal our mathematical or trade secrets, this model was made of metal and the diaphragm was cast in rubber. It opened when something was pushed through it and closed naturally. The model was a total success. Phew!

Stanford University Concert Hall

This model was built to study the acoustics of the newly designed concert hall. As is evident in the dimensions listed above, it was quite large—large enough to illicit impromptu ‘acoustic experiments’ from more adventurous bystanders! The acoustical engineers used a more sophisticated method, of course. Their tests were so successful that some parts were redesigned, giving way to a rebuilt model which allowed further testing.

Varian Proton Cyclotron

The actual machine is so large that it requires a 3-story space to house it. The technology it employs is fascinating, and ultimately vital, targeting cancerous cells in a highly focused manner with minimal detriment to the patient. Protons ‘spin’ (ergo the cyclotron) by means of large magnets—see ‘copper’ parts within the images—and travel through a long tube to the treatment room. The size and the cost of this product made it very difficult to show at hospitals, so we scaled it down. We added a cutaway to help tell the complete story as it travels domestically and abroad.

Country Oak Lane Family Room

When building a dream home for your family, you want to be certain that it will turn out exactly as you imagine it. In this case, the vision was to newly construct an “old barn” as a rustic, cozy hub to bring the family together. It’s always a challenge to age wood and get mortar to read as it would in another time and scale convincingly, without conveying the feeling of a train set. We know we succeeded when people who see the model for the first time consistently react with appropriate, “Ah…”

Johnson Electrical Motor

One of the most gratifying achievements for a professional model maker is perfecting the art of duplication. The look, feel, and finish had to be just right with this model, at five times its actual size. As with most models made for litigation, it had to be durable enough to withstand rigorous handling. Additionally, the top piece had to attach and detach cleanly and simply, without fussing about how things lined up or stayed in place. We embedded magnets towards this goal and it worked like a charm.

Bear Climbing Rock

Our large CNC machine enables us to make large things. This Bear Climbing Rock, made of 10 blocks of styrofoam (EPS) is the basis for molds that were subsequently cast from its surface and duplicated.

55 Stockton Model Art™ Gift

This piece of Model Art™ was presented as a gift to the owner of 55 Stockton from his employees. Our intention was produce a piece that was symbolic of his success and would be cherished and valued as fine art for generations.

This building is located just outside of Union Square in San Francisco. Currently, it is the flagship store for Crate & Barrel and home of the FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.) Heller Manus won an award for the most innovative use of precast in the 1980s. Their use of this material created a lot of movement in the facade, thus lending itself to a layered approach in the construction of the scale model and making it a perfect subject for Model Art™.

This interesting textural model was made from exotic woods and gold-plated brass. The golden roofs, window mullions, and signage were made of 50 separate etched-brass parts, soldered, and plated with 24-karat gold. The glass was represented with Katalox. The woods were individually selected in order to show the proper color differences between them. The texture of the grain at this scale was also of great importance in producing the model. We used quartersawn Hard Maple for the outer precast layer and Pink Ivory for the inner precast panels. The model artist chose Bolivian Rosewood for the frame and Brown Mallee Burl for the roads and flat roof, purely for decorative interest. We were fortunate to be able to include a piece of American history: Spalted Sugar Maple for the sidewalks and decks. This particular piece of wood came from a tree planted in the early 19th century at the estate of Andrew Jackson. It was among hundreds blown down by a tornado near Nashville in the 1990s.

The Sims PlumBob

The PlumBob is an important symbol to The Sims franchise and is widely recognized by players around the world as an iconic feature of the game. It is used to identify the character selected and to which the player can give commands, as well as the mood of playable Sims.

We built, “the best physical representation of The Sims PlumBob… ever seen” according to Electronic Arts, the world’s largest video game developer. We spent a significant amount of time working on light and color tests (with various component configurations) to get the right effect, but the end result was well worth the effort. It accurately replicates the tones and reflections of the virtual original, and that is truly exciting to gaming fans throughout.

Apple Store 5th Avenue Cube Replacement

Experiencing the Apple Store Cube at the Apple flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City for the first time is truly awe-inspiring. The replacement cube raises the bar even further as it is constructed with the largest sheets of glass ever made. The previous cube had 90 and the replacement cube has 15. Steve Jobs went all the way with this hollow glass construction, even eliminating the conspicuous titanium hardware entirely to create a seamless quality to the cube. It is truly beautiful. We are honored to be on the Apple team, building the vision in Model Art form.

Renzo Piano California Academy of Sciences Green Roof

This was one of the first pieces created on our 5-axis CNC router. Both sides were machined from a solid block of wood. To most people who see it for the first time, however, it seems as though we softened and warped the wood somehow. The acrylic spheres represent the actual spherical structures in the museum. This was meant to be an abstract representation of the green roof; more a piece of Model Art™ than simply a model. It is on display at the Autodesk Design Museum in San Francisco. In early 2011, it traveled to New York City for display in a “green architecture” exhibit at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum. This particular piece was chosen over other models because it met museum quality requirements, but it is Renzo Piano’s design concept that makes it so elegant and compelling—a great place to visit in Golden Gate Park!

Renzo Piano California Academy of Sciences Piazza Glass Roof

This was one of those technical challenges that seem impossible at first, but you just cannot stop thinking about it until it is solved. The challenge was not just to make a model, but to build it to “museum quality” standards for the Autodesk Design Museum with the added durability requirement to withstand travel to exhibitions around the world. Our solution: metal. The structure itself is all brass, mostly metal-etched, then soldered into 3D shapes. The “glass” is made of laser-cut acrylic, designed and assembled with tiny fittings at every corner, true to the Renzo Piano design. The warmth of the metal and wood, coupled with the benefits of perspective from all vantage points, bring the design experience to another level.

W Hotel Lobby Model Art

The architects for the interior of the W Hotel San Francisco, STANLEY SAITOWITZ │ NATOMA ARCHITECTS INC, designed the modern lobby with a San Francisco theme. They used patterned perforated ceiling panels to represent the fog of The City, made the space dark as night and needed a sculptural piece to represent San Francisco at night. Using photographs as our inspiration, we sculpted this piece of Model Art with both precision and artistic license. The topography was machined with a 2.5x vertical exaggeration to emphasize the changes in grade. We installed 2,000 LEDs in 4 colors on 4 circuits so that we could set the intensity of each circuit in place. A little fun was added by using red LEDs to represent points of interest in San Francisco and a single purple LED to designate the W Hotel.

Adobe Museum Sculpture

As our world becomes more and more virtual, the demand to bring things back to physical form increases. This is an exciting revelation for professional model makers. Who doesn’t use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop in the design world? Yet, how often do we stop and appreciate the work as works of art? The Adobe Museum very cleverly and appropriately creates a virtual art gallery to showcase and celebrate the work created with Adobe products with a simulated physical experience. Our Model Art piece, the Adobe Museum Sculpture, brought the concept all the way out into physical form and is displayed as Model Art at Adobe headquarters. Because this building was never intended to exist in physical form, there were several heart-pounding milestones in the production of this piece. Note the towers, not growing straight up from the base, but cantilevering from the side. Note the intertwining twists and turns in the podium gallery spaces and the hundreds of pedals to be modeled. The challenge was not just reconstructing the idea into a usable 3D CAD format, but designing the piece so that it could be physically assembled and finished without falling apart, (as the laws of physics must now be considered) – with lighting, too. There were a few skeptics who doubted it could be done successfully, but we persisted through each technical barrier and the end product speaks for itself.