Arckit is a freeform model building tool that allows architects and designers to physically explore designs and bring their projects to life. The interconnecting components use no glue, making it possible to create and modify a very broad range of building types that can be used as working models and to showcase finished projects.
This award-winning system is an unparalleled advancement on traditional “cut and glue” model building techniques because it is radically faster to assemble, can be endlessly changed after buildin gand allows architects to construct affordable models of their designs. The system can be used alongside 3D computer models to quickly and powerfully communicate ideas to clients and colleagues, as well as a physical discussion tool throughout all stages of a project. Arckit can function as both a standalone product and a built off using your very own bespoke 3D printed components or more traditional materials.
Richard Brown, sketch modelshop manager with a leading global practice, said: “I can see the potential, both initial and evolutionary, for the Arckit product. I’m looking forward to being able to actually try it out on live projects.”
Arckit will bring value to students in terms of speed, flexibility and reusability as they learn the intricacies of design and modelling. It can also become the platform to build off by using bespoke 3D printed components and/or traditional model making materials.
Arckit is based on modern paneled building techniques, making it highly practical for professional use. Each component is made on a standard 4-foot (1.2-m) modular grid to a scale of 1:48. This is only fractionally smaller than the 1:50 scale normally used by architects, allowing for easy conversion between metric and imperial systems. The additional benefit ofthis scale is that it is popular with many model manufacturers, so it is compatible with other model products, such as vehicles, figurines and furniture. Arckit can also be used to create master planning models of blocks, streets and external spaces at a scale you envisage it to be.
Completed models can be finished with realistic surface textures and material patterns by accessing a free digital Arckitexture Library on the Arckit website. This allows detailed finishes, such as timber paneling, terracotta tiles, stone walls and brick, to be added to an Arckit model. These textures can be downloaded and printed to the supplied adhesive Arckitexture sheets that are ready to be measured, cut and applied to the finished structure.
The creator of Arckit said: “I originally set out to develop a system designed by architects for architects. However, by removing all difficulties associated with traditional architectural model making, Arckit has, in fact, opened up an entirely new way for everyone to physically design and bring their ideas to life. You don’t have to purchase an expensive CAD drawing package or take a course, you just open the box and start to explore. We have received overwhelming interest not only from the architect profession but also from groups outside the industry, such as the education sector, architecture enthusiasts, interior designers, set designers, model hobbyists, and home builders planning extensions or building projects.”
Added features such as Arckit Digital are designed to allow users to recreate Arckit designs using SketchUp versions of Arckit components in Trimble’s 3D Warehouse. This makes it possible to develop a physical Arckit model of your 3D virtual model, share designs with clients and colleagues, and calculate component quantities necessary to physically build a virtual design. There are future plans to release add-on component packs and custom models.
Arckit is currently available to purchase online in three kit sizes: Arckit 60, Arckit 120 and Arckit 240.
For more information about Arckit, including testimonials from professional architects, please visit www.arckit.com or contact info@arckit.com.
