Practice Profile - WW+P

Practice Name and Location: Weston Williamson + Partners, Location: London, Waterloo

Practice Website: www.wwparchitects.com/

Contribution by: Toby Loughton, Head of Model Making

Practice statement: Sound design, good communication and clear decision making are all at the core of what we try to achieve at WW+P. Models are a great way for all of these objectives to be realised. Therefore, we use models for a large variety of reasons. We want them to be an integral part of our design process – but this is an ever evolving process that we are constantly trying to improve. Currently they are still used in the main to show the intent of a final idea or an evolving idea and that may go through a number of iterations. But they are also used to test different surface finishes or patterns (at quite large scales) and we have done a number of 1:5 parapet studies and even concrete casts. We have made airport master plans at the scale of 1:2500 and fixing details or surface and lighting experiments at 1:1. Some models are small enough to put in an A4 folder and some are 1.5m’s long.

We try to always challenge the “why” when it comes to model and design. What is the purpose of this model how is it going to help us? And then, how can we make that purpose even more beneficial/valuable to the project. What scale and size should it be, what materials would be most appropriate for the scheme and why? Always why! Can we improve the design? Can we showcase the best features of it and help to explain the reason for making the decisions that have been made?

In-House professional modelmakers: 2

Machines/equipment/workspace available for modelmaking activity:

Machines & Equipment: Laser Cutter, 5x FDM 3D printers, 2x SLA 3D printers, table saw, radial arm saw, disc sander, band saw, belt sander, bobbin sander, sanding thicknesser, hand sanders and drills, pillar drill, hot wire cutter, hand tools of many different types.

Workspaces: We have the main workshop, an other “layout / sketch model” break out space and a couple of 3D printing areas.

Materials/processes used:

We do not have a house style as such, but use quite a lot of card, Finn board, veneer, matte white and ivory PLA filament. We try to keep a simple/pared back pallet, being mindful of waste and using sustainable materials where we can and when most appropriate to the project and work stage.

Standard ‘Stock’ Materials: Cork sheets, Card, Mount board, Grey board, HD board, Finn Board, Mountboard , Acrylic (Perspex, Greencast & Hesaglas), Cork, Various Veneers, Ply & MDF, solid foam, Plaster, Cement, 3D printing resin and filament.

Materials that are used on a case by case basis: Metal etch, Jesmonite, solid woods, lighting.

All models are bespoke and have different reasons for being needed, so there is no one approach or one style we adopt; photos to go in reports, solving tricky design details, internal design reviews, optioneering and many are used for public consultations or client meetings.

I came from quite a hands-on ‘craft/design’ background, so we definitely mix more traditional ‘analogue’ techniques with more recent digital approaches. Using rapid prototyping machines is essential to our workflow, enabling us to be quick and efficient when producing work. We also have a digital team at WW+P and we work quite closely with them when we need computational input or scripts written to help us do something specific. Over the last couple of years we have been designing and making a number of in house projects, one of these is fast becoming a tradition, being the yearly Christmas tree and we have created other Pavilion’s/installations for the LFA too (London Festival of Architecture). We find these events a great way to test our capabilities and the workflow / collaboration of specialist teams within WW+P. They are a great opportunity to develop great teamwork and design exploration, outside of our day to day work.

Modelmaking activities take place within your practice.:

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

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

Predominantly, professional model makers make the work for the architectural teams. But not exclusively. Sometimes the Architects support us with more than just drawing and actually help, sometimes they take on the models themselves. This very much depends on the skill/experience of the individual, the quantity of work needing to be produced and the type of model required. The enthusiasm that individuals have for model making can also have quite an impact on how projects are approached. We have recently tried to upskill everyone in how to use the 3D printers as a first step to encourage more making by the architects themselves.