The Model City

Saturday, 1 March 2008

Liverpool Models - City Centre

This model is now on display in Central Library. Below is the text that accompanies the display:

"Originally constructed between 1961 and 1994, The Liverpool City Centre Model was a unique and valuable tool for the city's planning development. During this time, a dedicated model-making team - led by Ron Palmer and based at Wilberforce house - created an astoundingly detailed 1:500 scale model of the city centre.

In 2003, after a lengthy period of storage, Liverpool Vision and Liverpool City Council commissioned local model makers Studioscope (formerly Static Models & Design) to begin the lengthy process of updating and refurbishing the models.

Modern model-making techniques differ from those used in the 1960's, with resins replacing wood and computer controlled cutting direct from Ordnance Survey data replacing hand-drawn mapping. However, the end result remains the same - superbly crafted hand-made miniature versions of all the buildings forming our world famous city.

The model is now, once again, an important asset for Liverpool and is helping to guide its regeneration. The refurbished model provides the opportunity for developers and architects to add their plans in a unique 3D environment. Proposed new buildings are inserted into the model to test their impact on the ever-changing city centre and their relationship to the existing streetscape.

Throughout 2006, the model was displayed at the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo headquarters on Old Hall Street - the first time it had been on public display for 10 years. It allowed local people the chance to see the dramatic and positive changes that have taken place in the city centre since it was last on public display in 1996.

New schemes are being added all the time as modern office, retail, leisure and residential developments transform the city centre. The blocks coloured yellow represent some of the major new buildings and schemes that either have planning consent, are still under construction or recently completed.

Now the model has found a permanent home. Liverpool City Libraries has agreed to display the model so that it can be enjoyed by residents, businesses and organisations passionate about the regeneration of Liverpool city centre."

Monday, 18 February 2008

The Model City

Retro futuristic postcard flyers for The Model City.

A little film about a big city. A monster film about a miniature city.

The Model City is an experimental short film project about the City of Liverpool, past present and future.

It is an unusual investigation into the design and scale of our urban environment, exploring the architectural scale models that have attempted to shape our vision of what the city could be. This playful film will reveal a vision of a city so big that the people look like insects. Or is this a city so small that even insects begin to dwarf the architecture? This is Liverpool seen from both a micro and macro perspective at once.

These models are a playground of ideas for the city planners and architects. The film will allow us to think about what happens once these models are forgotten… dust gathers, time moves on, but the people and the buildings stay the same. There may be new inhabitants too…

Ants make their journey through Clayton Square. Giant stick insects perch on the Albert Dock. A centipede strolls down Lord street whilst a huge spider explores the new Liverpool One project development.

This is an absurd look at how architecture and scale affects the freedom to explore those spaces typically defined as 'private' or off-limits; the narrow paths of public access, accessible perhaps only to the wealthy and how private ownership is balanced against public freedom.

Produced by Luden AV in Partnership with the BBC Big Screen, The Model City is a unique site-specific film project. The final film will be screened in the heart of the City Centre on the BBC Big Screen where viewers will be encouraged to think about the scale of the city, both onscreen and immediately around them.