Practice Profile - HENN

Practice Name and Location: HENN - Berlin / Munich / Frankfurt / Beijing / Shanghai

Website: www.henn.com

Contribution by: Oliver Koch, Workshop Manager

Practice Statement: At HENN, the model is an essential tool for visualising design ideas and an important means of communication in the form-finding and planning process. Of particular interest to us is how model making can coexist alongside digital technologies – computational design, simulations and AI are all part of the practices’ workflow, but we find a lot of design development, decision-making and client communication is best done through the use of physical models.

In early phase projects (strategic planning, design competitions and feasibility studies), we will typically make sketch models to help with internal form-finding, understanding spatial relationships and as a communication tool for client workshops. As well as working models, we make a lot of presentation models for early phase work - in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, there is usually a requirement for a physical model submission as part of a competition (typically 1:500 for building design or 1:1000 for masterplans). Even if there is not an explicit model requirement, we will often bring models for client workshops or presentations, as it is a useful tool for helping explain projects to clients, particularly from non-architectural backgrounds.

For later phase work, we will work with a range of scales to visually represent important parts of a project or aid with planning development – recently we have made everything from 1/100, 1/25, 1/1 for façade details and 1/2 and 1/1 for furniture mock-ups.

In-house professional modelmakers: Currently two in Berlin, two in Munich.

Machines/equipment/workspace available for modelmaking activity:

Munich: Table saw, Bandsaw, Router, Sanding Machines, Laser Cutter, Extrusion 3D Printers, Spray Booth, Hot Wires, Casting Equipment

Berlin: Laser Cutter, Extrusion 3D Printers, Sanding Machines, Sandblasting Cabinet, Spray Booth, Hot Wires, Casting Equipment

Materials/processes used:

Digital: The practice uses a combination of Rhino and Revit. For model making, drawings are processed in Rhino for laser cutting and 3D printing.

Analogue / Model Related: Working models are typically made with foam, card or 3D printed elements. Presentation quality models are usually 3D printed and painted and would also incorporate acrylic and or wood, although it varies from project to project and the materials often adapt to the message the model is trying to convey.

How Modelmaking activities take place within the practice:

· Architects make models

· Architects work with in-house professional modelmakers to make models

· Architects ask in-house professional modelmakers to make models for them

· Architects outsource models

We currently have two full-time in-house model makers in both Berlin and Munich, which make the majority of the models, particularly presentation-quality work. However, anyone is encouraged to also make models - team members from the design studio will often use the facilities to make study models.

All Germany-based model work is done in-house, although sometimes we will outsource pieces or components from other model makers, eg: Modellbau Milde, Werk5 or 3D printing companies such as iMaterialise.

We also have basic modelmaking equipment in the Chinese offices for sketch models, but presentation or competition models are outsourced to local model makers.