by Roopinder Tara, Tenlinks.com

What if making architectural models was easy, fun, cheap -- and clean? What if it they came in kits with pieces you can snap together, pieces that may actually resemble architectural elements like walls, floor and roof panels, roof trusses, columns, and windows? What if models would come together without explanation, training, or weeks and months of waiting? What if your kid could make them, as easy as building blocks?

Snap together your next architectural model with a kit from Arckit. Adhesive backed patterns are applied to plain building panels to get color and patterns. I know: why hasn't some one thought of this?

Damien Murtagh did. An architect himself, Damien founded Arckit so that others would be free to explore a design in its physical form without even so much as computer -- or Lego bricks. Arckit may not provide the detail of a professionally-crafted laser-cut model, but you have to admit it is way more accessible, intuitive, and cheaper than doing it yourself. There's really nothing in this level of modeling in terms of cost and detail.



Waiting for 3D Printing?



Besotted with technology as I am, I have no doubt imagining 3D computer models turning into 3D prints, though the reality will be a rude awakening. 3D printing can be time consuming. One 3D print vendor says it takes 35-40 hours to process a luxury home CAD model for 3D printing. It's messy with chemicals to clean up. And raw materials are expensive.



In contrast, Arckit is available in three sizes:

A60 (60 sq meters, or 650 sq ft of floor area) for $165

A120 (120 sq meters, or 1292 sq ft) for $315

A240 (240 sq meters, or 5283 sq ft) for $499

Based in Ireland, Damien is quite excited about introducing Arckit in the US and so is giving 10% off the prices listed for a few more days and including shipping.



If you simply must use a computer, Arckit makes its pieces available in SketchUp's 3D Warehouse. You can see what each of the pieces look like and even make whole model onscreen for free. See https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/search.html?backendClass=entity&q=ARCKIT.





Adding Details



To avoid the bland look of monochrome 3D printed models, Arckit provides several downloadable surface textures and material patterns you can print on self-adhesive sheets, supplied with each kit that you can stick on your model.



Now, an enterprising architect can probably make use of any of the texture maps libraries available, scale the pattern to the 1:48 scale Arckit uses, and then print out their own sheets.



For more information, go to http://arckit.com

[Reprinted with permision of CAD Insider.]