Material History of Model Making
The second chapter focusses on models’ physical properties, their materiality and singularity as physically built objects that are paired with a study of their technological developments. The connection of model and building, the development of new degrees of structural complexity in model making and the mutually representative capacities of modeling and building materials are at the center of a chronological study of the evolution of the most important modeling materials from cardboard to Plexiglas. Material imitation of building materials marks a core aspect that is reviewed with the help of case studies to show how the unfolding of the Miniature Boom was based predominantly on presentation models but was later adopted by design models, too. The study of materials is linked to a study of model types and functions and their mutual influence on one another. At the same time, the development in building materials and shifts in larger architectural styles and design problems is an integral part of this chapter.