Daily Mini Interview: Ittyblox Miniature Buildings

Miniature Architecture by Ittyblox

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1What’s your earliest memory with miniatures?

That would be as a kid walking through Madurodam, a theme park in the Netherlands with Dutch miniature buildings. You can walk around them and even control some actions like opening a dam and so forth. It’s really great for kids and parents. Kids see the miniatures as big toys, while parents recognize the buildings and are fascinated about how detailed they are.

What are 1-2 pivotal experiences you had with architectural design?

As a kid, I always made buildings with Lego or paper and cardboard. I always thought they were great, but when I was a kid there was no Internet to post them or get inspired by the designs of others. Now, when everyone sees what others make by posting pictures and instructions, I think it’s easier to get inspired by the work of others. Hobbies are easier to get involved in.ParijsSC

How did you first get started making Ittyblox miniatures? 

I started making Ittyblox miniatures after I came across the 3-D printing platform Shapeways. I was 3-D designing for render-purposes during my study in architecture, but when I found out that this software allows you to create physical full color models without all the painting and gluing hassles, I was hooked. I could never get the right amount of detail I wanted in my miniatures, but now with 3-D printing, I could. On Shapeways, I could even sell the prints to others, so other people can grow a collection too without having to make them (either physically or digitally).

6Did you ever work in a larger scale? 

I have tried different scales, but the 1:1000 scale allows me to make both houses and skyscrapers within the reasonable boundaries of 3-D printing. For instance, the regular railroad scales are nice for villages and farms, but a city would be too big. I only make buildings in the same scale, because they can all be connected with one other. I take a lot of time to make a building; it would not be as satisfying if ittyblox buildings couldn’t be used together.ittycropsmall

Do you have a favorite building you’d like to mention?

Well, I am currently running a Kickstarter to get three sets of Paris buildings funded. One of them is the Sainte Chapelle. In this Gothic chapel, I really tried to get everything out of the current 3-D printing possibilities. Little details or too thin walls will break, so it is always a choice between printablity and detailing.
What’s the most challenging aspect of your work with Ittyblox?

KSprojectImageParisThe most challenging is to model buildings within certain technological constraints without making these constraints visible. It’s like building a sand castle: you cannot make thin parts, but you can add detailed reliefs. Details of only .1 mm are visible, but walls have to be 20mm in order to stay intact. The trick is to make buildings not too bulky by adding chimneys that don’t stand out much, and so forth.

Ittyblox was created by Stef de Vos of den Bosch, Netherlands. You can have a look at more miniature buildings by checking out the Ittyblox Facebook, Ittyblox Instagram, Ittyblox Twitter and Shapeways store. Support these design efforts on Kickstarter!

Daily Mini Interview: Miniature Architectural Sculptures by Chisel & Mouse

Chisel & Mouse Create Architectural Sculptures in Miniature

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CHISEL-AND-MOUSE-9How did Chisel & Mouse come to be?

We [Robert and Gavin] ran a software company for 10 years and became disillusioned by corporate life. We took a year out, drew a ‘mind map’ and came up with Chisel & Mouse. Gavin has always been a keen model maker and I wanted to use 3D printers (which we use in our prototyping). We shared a passion for architecture and both wanted to make a something. Architectural sculptures met all of our requirements.

What are the advantages of knowing your partner so well, and how do each of your respective talents come together to form a successful team?​

We have complementary skills and interests. Gavin is focused on the creation and production of the models and I’m more focused on the presentation of the models and the company. We have cross over, and get involved in each others’ domains regularly but the ‘ownership’ stops too many tantrums! We switch from brothers to business partners back to brothers in an instance. Most of our big working decisions have been made on a dog walk.​

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Tell us a bit about your interest in 3D printing.

Advancements in 3D printing have made rapid prototyping easier and easier. You can work out the rubbish, tweak your design, and have another go at it. Since 3D printing is still somewhat in its infancy, speed is still an issue. As with the Ultimaker 7 for instance, it takes a ludicrous amount of time to print one object. You create a CAD drawing, send it out, and print it out. It’s revolutionary technology. It now takes us over 24 hours to print one of the standard sculptures from the Chisel & Mouse collection. And sometimes these works fall over at hour 21, so you have to start all over again.

Qp0s9WdeIb7h-1br2bO6LyII5jffC-Wo2VGXsj27zD0What’s the most challenging aspect of your day-to-day work on these miniature replicas?​

There are many! Applying the metal etched detail for the windows and doors on many of our models can be very tricky. Overhangs in general are difficult to create. Churches that come to a severe point, or church spire, are also challenging. On another note, working out which building or aspect of a building we are going to model can be very difficult.

What materials do you use to make your architectural sculptures?

Our models are made of a very hard resin plaster, which is free of toxic solvents. Some of the detailing, such as window frames and doors, are made of etched brass or nickel silver. The bases and some of the backs of the models are covered in black felt.

As for unique materials we’ve used to make these sculptures: toothpicks.

Do you have a favorite piece you’ve created? 

Hill House. I love Rennie Mackintosh and with Hill House, you can see his unorthodox style. At first glance, it looks like the outline of a building a child would draw, then you look more closely and you see his total lack of symmetry.

Upcoming miniature sculptures you’re excited about?

I’m really excited about the Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles. It represents a record deck, with a 7-inch record stacked out. As one record finishes, the arm goes back down. I’m really pleased to work on that one in miniature.

WxWKmGWZyPCI7EWTeQkAhg5Dh5UqnAR44bgVYB666O0,gbCmhvqKSMJa8Dib_9Hmmse2SGYv3P0F8wQYJVjBwsQAlso, there are a number of villas we will be working on including Farnsworth House. And of course the dollhouse in modernist style.

Are your architectural sculptures all one piece? Do any of the pieces move? 

Our works are primarily one solid piece. For our façade models, we’ll take one solid lump of plaster and add metal to it later on. As for our 3D-printed works of art, we use a combination of materials, such as plaster walls, metal windows and doors, and 3D-printed internal structures.

On the large dollhouse we created, you can remove the roof to look through the space. You can also pull out the first floor to look down into the room below.

Are your Chisel & Mouse sculptures one of a kind?

There’s definitely a craft element in our work. All of our sculptures are slightly unique. When we pull them out of their molds, that part is constant and consistent. But we’re always finishing up little bits here and there, and there’s nuances that make each sculpture distinct.

How many countries are represented through your Chisel & Mouse architectural sculptures?

We are focused on British and US architecture but we also have models from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Manila in the Philippines. Each month the list of buildings and countries keeps growing. We’re a bit more focused on creating buildings that you know and love and can readily recognize.

hill-house-front-medium-v3When clients ask to make a miniature model of their home, are there any details you cannot guarantee? 

When it comes to bespoke commissions, yes, we can create a 1-for-1 replica in miniature. However, there are certain parts of a building that one might leave off when creating it in smaller scale. Brickwork, for instance, we can create this look, but then the model becomes a bit fussy. So we might stylize a piece in such a way and leave off tiling and brickwork. If we had something like canopies or entryways that jut out across the pavement,we might recommend that these elements be artistically restricted from the final sculpture. The impression of a basement, for one.

Do you work within a particular miniature scale?

We try to work within a scale that fits the specific space the client has in mind. Not too small, but roughly a foot across let’s say. We can create much, much bigger architectural sculptures as well as smaller ones. However, when it comes to the small scale works, we do most of our work in plaster, and there comes a point with the detail when the plaster becomes too fragile. Staircases, for instance.

What’s your take on miniature furniture within an architectural structure?

Without furniture, it’s not at all possible to tell the function of the room. It allows viewers to dream the dream and see themselves inside the space.

Have you collaborated with any miniature artists?

We haven’t yet, but would love to. For our dollhouse project this is definitely something we want to do.

john-lewis-architectural-models-2Do you ever create sculptures of outdoor spaces or landscape design?

We would consider any structure. We were recently asked to work on a particular type of Syrian gate that has elaborate markings on the side. We would definitely consider other outdoor works.

What inspires you?​

Reproducing iconic buildings in exacting miniature​.

Motto that keeps you creating?​

We don’t really have a motto, just a passion to keep improving​.

Tool, material or technique you can’t live without?​

The trusty chisel. We work with plaster and the chisel is essential to get the models just right.​

What are your earliest memories with miniatures?

I must have had exposure as a child, but my clearest memory is from much more recently when I first saw the Vitra miniature chairs. I was blown away by the detail and level of craftsmanship​

cityscape-slide-02Advice to beginner architects, designers, and artists?​

Be proud of what you produce​.

What do you want miniature enthusiasts to know about you?​

We are obsessed with details​​.

What’s to come from Chisel & Mouse?

We are working on a series of cityscapes and will be releasing New York City, Chicago, and Tokyo in the new year. We are also developing a range of modernist dollhouses, and hope to release these in the autumn of 2016.

We’d love to collaborate with architecture and design schools in the future. And to have a display with all of our pieces would be a dream come true as well.

Anything else you’d like to add?​

We’re always keen for suggestions​. It would be great if miniature enthusiasts let us know what buildings they would like to see modeled.

Robert and Gavin Paisley are brothers and architecture enthusiasts. They launched Chisel & Mouse as a way to bring their passion for beautiful buildings to life. Their mission is to bring great architecture into your living room. Click here to shop the Chisel & Mouse collection of architectural sculptures, bookends, and cityscapes. And you can follow their updates on Facebook.

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Daily Mini Interview: Photographer Chris Buck’s Likeness Series

Miniature Figurines in the Photography of Chris Buck

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Where did the idea for the Likeness series stem from? Tell us a bit about your 3D-printed self.

IMG_8402_V2A friend in mine had mentioned a pop-up shop in Chelsea Market offered 3D-printed figures. I went by the DOOB™ booth to check it out and was very impressed with the 3D-printed work on display. The examples had great detail and were solid replicas of the team working that day. I returned to the neighborhood and pursued my own 3D-printed self.

Originally, I had no plans to show the work, I just found the miniature me to be both weird and cool.

What did you learn through your work with the Likeness project?

IMG_2474Well, what’s interesting is that in looking at my photography in general, I always approach my portrait work by molding people into doing what I do, or what I would do. In that sense, my subjects conform to Chris Buck. So if you see awkwardness or frustration in the picture, that’s more me than the subject.

The Likeness series allowed me to show things from my life in a way that my other work doesn’t. The work was in a playful context, overtly imaginary. Take, for instance, the shot in a crappy hotel room with the figurine drunk on a bottle of bourbon. I was able to do that effectively because it was playful and silly, both odd and funny.

What I enjoyed most about the project was that I was creating natural self portraits, separated from me. I was both the photographer and the subject all at once. It was the ultimate dream of a portrait photographer realized.

IMG_3682_V2What has been your favorite Likeness photo thus far?

I would break this series into two groups: photos driven by content vs. photos driven by visual. I think some of the best #bucklikeness photos, and the most successful ones, have been driven by both content and visual. Two that stand out in my mind as having interesting content that’s also complex and visual would be: the frustrated Likeness in front of the urinal and the one where he’s buried in sand.

Tell us a bit about the figurine’s demise which resulted in the end of the Likeness series.

After I first had the replica made, I was in Los Angeles for 2 weeks and shot with him a lot out there. IMG_8534When I was in San Francisco for a short while, he ended up falling off a shelf. I glued him back together and kept taking photos. So it’s a bit misleading, you see, that the last image in the series was actually taken towards the beginning. I put him back together with rubber glue, but one foot kept breaking off.

The Likeness series is done now. Anytime I went anywhere, I had to take the replica along. I took #bucklikeness on vacation, to the beach – anywhere I went, he came. It was very distracting and an enjoyable series, but I never wanted it to become my whole creative identity.

You’ve previously incorporated miniature figures into your photography (Miniature Grooming (Harold Ramis); Hydrophobia; Tickphobia; Vignette (Rob Corddry)). Have you always had an interest in miniatures?

Phobias_Hydrophobia_Lucas

David Levinthal’s work inspired the Phobia series, which was featured in Outside magazine. The Likeness series took things a bit further and made the work more personal.

There’s something appealing about miniatures. They look like our world, but they’re not our world. I remember loving the other worldly quality of works by Ray Harryhausen. When his skeletons moved in Jason and the Argonauts, there was a sense of realism, but something was also off.

When it comes to miniatures, even when they are well done and really alluring, something is still a little bit off. And that captivates viewers even more.

Do you have any favorite artists or designers working in miniature?

RobCorddryChrisBuck

I enjoy the work of David Levinthal and very much liked Corinne May Botz’s book The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death.

I don’t consider myself a miniature expert by any extent. A lot of people are working in miniatures, and there’s a range of hobbyists and serious artists, but all of it is interesting. The people working in this are so strong and dedicated to their craft. What worked well with the Likeness series was dabbling with contemporary technology. It provided me license on to put on my own creative spin on the work.

Harold_Ramis_frown_2_2_Lucas

What inspires you?

Some people are compelled to be creative. If I didn’t have to make art to support myself, I would still make it. It’s irresistible. There is something in me that drives me to create. I have to do this, whether “this” is putting together a family photo album, researching my family history, or working on professional photo projects. I have to do this stuff because it’s in my DNA. So, even if my schedule was completely cleared, I would still take the time to work on creative projects.

I’m also interested in the conflicts within us as human beings: who we are and what we want to be. I am inspired by concepts of morality and goodness and questions surrounding these aspects of humanity. And, I am also drawn to the dark side as well. That mix shows up in my work a lot.

Advice for beginner artists?tumblr_nuoslzyD3N1t47mgpo1_1280

One of the dangers I see with young people is that they become too inspired by what moves them. I would love to see more young artists reactive against things rather than inspired by things. For instance, with miniatures, if someone were to look around and say, “the way people are making miniatures today isn’t right at all. I want to make miniatures the way they should be done,” then they would create more interesting work as a result. When you deem a field to be exciting and want to become a part of it, you unintentionally might be creating more of the same work, yielding less growth or movement than if you rebelled against the norm or standards of that particular industry.

I hope that young or new artists can share another way of doing things. If this up-and-coming generation shared a truer vision of what should be happening in the field, then they’re ultimately rejecting the current wave to create a new wave. IMG_3521_V2So, even if it’s rejecting what I do – if I’m the old guard and I’m wrong – then that’s awesome. And you should do that. Put me in the past, I’d love to see what you come up with.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about the Likeness series? 

When I first saw and held my 3D-printed replica, it was crisp, clean, and the suit was dark. It didn’t take too long for it to fade. Eventually it became shabby and broke. It’s interesting that it had its own life. And in a way, it echoes what will be my life. The Likeness project had a biographical arc: youth, middle age, old age, deterioration, and death. And so, I felt comfortable letting it end because all things end. I wanted to acknowledge that [death]. It’s a fitting way to end it. The replica aged and demised; he eventually slowed down and died.tumblr_nuoslzyD3N1t47mgpo6_1280

Closing thoughts on miniatures or replicas?

The field of 3D photographic technology could open up new doors in the field of miniatures. I think it’s exceptionally interesting and I also wonder how miniaturists will react against it, as it removes some of the craft of creating miniatures by hand. To me, 3D printing is the equivalent of representational painting, where all of a sudden photography comes along and ultimately represents life better than paintings do.

Chris Buck is a photographer based in NY and LA. His clients include Google, Xerox, Old Spice, Dodge, GQ, The New Yorker and The Guardian Weekend. He was the first recipient of the Arnold Newman Portrait Prize in 2007. His first book, Presence, was published in 2012. Follow Chris Buck on Instagram, Tumblr, or visit chrisbuck.com to enjoy more of his photography work.

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