A few years ago, our Delft Form & Modelling Studies group contributed to an exhibition in the M-museum in Leuven, Belgium with six contextual scale models. The models show the six projects as icons within their context. Deliberate choices were made to express the essence of each urban environment. Many computer aided fabrication methods were used, including CNC milling, laser cutting and 3D printing.

If you take a look at the pictures below, you can see how only certain details in the context models were emphasised, and that many aspects were left out.

The models tell a story about the six projects. It would not have helped to make more details in the surrounding buildings. This would be too distracting. The different colours of the buildings help to keep the model lively, and give an impression of the diverse look of Belgian cities. The water and the trees in the models are also very schematic.

At first it was a struggle to bring all these contextual aspects together, but in the end the building projects were clearly defined within their urban context.