The City Model
Note: Click here to read an updated review posted Aug 2023.
The article below is from Feb 2022.
I’ve always loved scale models. Throughout my childhood I’d create makeshift cities in sandboxes, playing God from above with my Hot Wheels and GI Joe. If someone had told me at that young age that there was a job called City Planner my life may have taken a different path than it did.
So when I recently found out that there was a swimming pool size scale model of the City of London, I promptly booked a ticket for one of the free events sponsored by New London Architecture.
I arrived early for the “20-minute introductory talk, where one of our knowledgeable team will introduce the model and reveal what it teaches about the history, present and future of the City of London.”
Alas, I suspect the normal expert was off sick. The speaker apologised that it was their first time doing this, after which they read straight from a script which, rather oddly, was mostly just a cursory list of key historical events than necessitated rebuilding London (e.g. The Great Fire, The Blitz, etc).
We did hear a little information about the model, but not necessarily the extent to which it is used to shape the city. Nor did we get any info on upcoming buildings or major works. It was all over in 5 minutes (including 2 awkwardly answered questions) but it was still a better explanation than you’ll get down the road at the London Mithraeum.
The model itself, though, didn’t disappoint.
At 1:500 scale, every centimetre of the model represents 5 metres in real size. The original base model is 30 years old, but it continues to be updated as buildings get past the planning approval stages. It’s maintained by Pipers Model Makers (@pipersmodelmakers) who have created incredibly lifelike renditions of the most recent glass skyscrapers, which are all lit up from within.
If you’ve ever circled the city while waiting for a landing slot at Heathrow, you’ll absolutely love the leisurely bird’s eye view this model allows.
If you liked that…
Interesting Engineering has published a list of the 19 biggest scale models in the world, which includes the one I just wrote about.
My personal favourite is the Panorama of the City of New York — which was created for the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, NY. The model continues to be updated, and if you’re ever in NYC is an absolute must-see.
Bonus 1 - Gulliver’s Gate
Gulliver’s Gate — a New York City attraction which is now permanently closed — was a series of scale models of various international cities, famous landmarks and some fantasy lands as well. It contained various interactive elements, including Times Square billboards that displayed live video of the visitors as they walked through the exhibit. They weren’t always entirely realistic representations, but it was a lot of fun.
Here are some photos from my visit in 2017.
Bonus 2 - Miniatur Wunderland
If you’re ever in Hamburg, Germany, then you absolutely do not want to miss Miniatur Wunderland which is the largest miniature railway and airport model in the world. It’s absolutely HUGE and is spread over multiple floors in a warehouse. As of December 2021, the exhibit includes 1,300 trains made up of over 10,000 carriages, over 100,000 moving vehicles, approx. 500,000 lights, 130,000 trees, and 400,000 human figurines.
There is so much to see that is is legitimately overwhelming, but eagle eyed viewers are well rewarded. There are lots of humorous scenes and activities hidden throughout the models.
See if you can spot the naughty Santa and the urinating hikers in these photos from my visit in 2016.
