Understanding the Architectural Model

About

Goal

Though architectural models are undeniably central to design and production, they have largely remained an untapped resource for architectural historians. By developing strategies for digitizing architectural models using 3D imaging technologies, this project seeks to establish best practices for the application of these technologies in art historical research in order to make these models more widely accessible.

Outcomes

A workshop that gathered professionals from the fields of architectural history, technical imaging, and information science to address the challenges of providing access to architectural models
An exhibition of Frank Gehry's architectural models from the Getty Research Institute's collection at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to celebrate the building’s 20th anniversary (Oct 2023)
An interactive website featuring models, sketches, archival photographs, and interviews documenting the development of the Walt Disney Concert Hall to celebrate the building’s twentieth anniversary (Oct 2023)
An imaging case study of select architectural models from the Getty Research Institute’s collection that represent a variety of historical, typological, and material conditions as well as a range of 3D imaging approaches

Background

Recent advances in 3D imaging technology have the potential to broaden access to architectural models. However, these technologies are still in development, and no single approach or technique will be suitable for all types of models. Developing a more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the research applications for 3D images of architectural models is critical for determining technical standards and best practices for imaging.

Full Project Team & Collaborators

Sponsors
- Andrew Perchuk, Getty Research Institute
Project Leads
- Maristella Casciato, Getty Research Institute
- Emily Pugh, Getty Research Institute
- Todd Swanson, Getty Digital
Content Specialist
- Gary Riichirō Fox, Getty Research Institute
Project Manager
- Ian Webb, Getty Research Institute
Getty Digital Collaborators
- David Newbury, Getty Digital
- Serena Parr, Getty Digital
- Linda Han, Getty Digital
- Lily Pregill, Getty Digital
- Teresa Soleau, Getty Digital
Getty Research Institute Collaborators
- Mark Benson, Getty Research Institute
- Patricia Harpring, Getty Research Institute
- Ann Harrison, Getty Research Institute
- Aimee Lind, Getty Research Institute
- Laura Schroffel, Getty Research Institute
- Oliver Elser, Chief Curator, Deutsches Architektur Museum, Frankfurt
- Meaghan Lloyd, Partner, FOGA
- Megan Meulemans, Archivist, FOGA
- Silvia Perea, UC Santa Barbara Architecture & Design Collections
- Vincent Rossi, Senior 3D Program Officer, Digitization Program Office, Smithsonian
- Pedro Santos, Head of Competence Center Cultural - Heritage Digitization, Fraunhofer Institute, Darmstadt
- Annabel J. Wharton, Professor of Art and Art History, Duke University
- Ann Whiteside, Assistant Dean for Information Services, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
- Martien de Vletter, Director, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal
- Rob Sanderson, Getty Digital
- Shirin Sadjadpour, Getty Research Institute
- Anne Helmreich, Getty Foundation
- Rich Fagen, Getty Digital
- Andra Darlington, Getty Research Institute
- Lyndsey Godwin-Kresge, Getty Research Institute