07 December 2008
The region's booming real estate industry is bolstering the growth of miniature model-making business - estimated at around Dh400 million a year. There are more than 40 model-making companies in the Gulf and eight of major ones are located in Dubai.
These firms handle heavy demand from real estate businesses all over the GCC and CIS countries, making about 300 models a year.
An average company executes up to five architectural models a month, while Arabtic Eastern Model, the modeling arm for Arabtec, handles almost 10 modeling projects a month and this doubles or triples in the time of big real estate events such as Cityscape, said Roula Bitar, Manager of the architectural modeling section at the company. The architectural models start at Dh25,000 for a single building and goes up to millions of dirhams for whole master-plan layouts.
Bitar said the model-making business went side by side with the robust real estate industry in Dubai and the the rest of the GCC markets for the last decade. Developers know they need models to illustrate projects in order to create the interest and demand among the clients, added Bitar.
The physical structure of a project is more significant than video or pictures because most developers sell their projects off-plan and there is nothing to look at but the models, added Bitar.
Cityscape and similar events are considered high season for firms making architectural models.
Arabtic Eastern Model uses cutting-edge technologies and materials to manufacturing miniature models. The company makes models for some of the biggest real estate firms in the region.
Bitar said: "In the past models used to be designed and manufactured manually with materials such as paper and they were not that impressive, but now we can deliver very sophisticated and impressive models using acrylic plastic sheets, ABS, blexy glass, resin, wood and foam.
Machinery used for cutting and colouring are laser-based, also lights can be used in the model to highlight the details of the project and moving items such as cars, trains, sliding doors and giant wheels.
Arabtic Eastern Model can deliver up to 25 different models a month and the cost of the model differs according to the scale of the project, the size of the model and added items such as digital screens, moving items and lights.
The basic square metre model without any additional features will cost up to Dh25,000, while top-of-the-line models such as Dubailand model, which was made a couple of years ago could cost tens of millions, said Bitar.
For Cityscape 2008, Arabtic Eastern Model delivered almost 20 different models for major real estate firms including Rowad, Zolo, King Abdullah Economic City, DWTC and Ajman Marina.
The work schedule of the staff on a particular model varies depending on the size and scale of the model. An average starter model would need about four people to finalise it, but a major project such as King Abdullah Economic Zone would need up to 40 different specialists working as a team for more than a month.
A model goes through many stages. The first one is the drawing, then it is up to the architect who will engrave the building, and the last stage is high-end machinery installation.
Types of model
Exterior models are those of buildings, which usually include some landscaping or civic spaces around the building.
Interior models include halls, rooms, floors showing interior planning, finishes, colours, furniture and beautification.
Landscaping design models include design and development representing features such as walkways, small bridges, pergolas, vegetation patterns and beautification. Landscaping design models usually represent public spaces and may, in some cases, include buildings as well.
Urban models are typically built at a much smaller scale (starting from 1:500 and less, 1:700, 1:1000, 1:1200, 1:2000, 1:2000, representing several city blocks, even whole town or village, large resort, campus, industrial facility, military base. Urban models are key to town or city planning.
The region's booming real estate industry is bolstering the growth of miniature model-making business - estimated at around Dh400 million a year. There are more than 40 model-making companies in the Gulf and eight of major ones are located in Dubai.
These firms handle heavy demand from real estate businesses all over the GCC and CIS countries, making about 300 models a year.
An average company executes up to five architectural models a month, while Arabtic Eastern Model, the modeling arm for Arabtec, handles almost 10 modeling projects a month and this doubles or triples in the time of big real estate events such as Cityscape, said Roula Bitar, Manager of the architectural modeling section at the company. The architectural models start at Dh25,000 for a single building and goes up to millions of dirhams for whole master-plan layouts.
Bitar said the model-making business went side by side with the robust real estate industry in Dubai and the the rest of the GCC markets for the last decade. Developers know they need models to illustrate projects in order to create the interest and demand among the clients, added Bitar.
The physical structure of a project is more significant than video or pictures because most developers sell their projects off-plan and there is nothing to look at but the models, added Bitar.
Cityscape and similar events are considered high season for firms making architectural models.
Arabtic Eastern Model uses cutting-edge technologies and materials to manufacturing miniature models. The company makes models for some of the biggest real estate firms in the region.
Bitar said: "In the past models used to be designed and manufactured manually with materials such as paper and they were not that impressive, but now we can deliver very sophisticated and impressive models using acrylic plastic sheets, ABS, blexy glass, resin, wood and foam.
Machinery used for cutting and colouring are laser-based, also lights can be used in the model to highlight the details of the project and moving items such as cars, trains, sliding doors and giant wheels.
Arabtic Eastern Model can deliver up to 25 different models a month and the cost of the model differs according to the scale of the project, the size of the model and added items such as digital screens, moving items and lights.
The basic square metre model without any additional features will cost up to Dh25,000, while top-of-the-line models such as Dubailand model, which was made a couple of years ago could cost tens of millions, said Bitar.
For Cityscape 2008, Arabtic Eastern Model delivered almost 20 different models for major real estate firms including Rowad, Zolo, King Abdullah Economic City, DWTC and Ajman Marina.
The work schedule of the staff on a particular model varies depending on the size and scale of the model. An average starter model would need about four people to finalise it, but a major project such as King Abdullah Economic Zone would need up to 40 different specialists working as a team for more than a month.
A model goes through many stages. The first one is the drawing, then it is up to the architect who will engrave the building, and the last stage is high-end machinery installation.
Types of model
Exterior models are those of buildings, which usually include some landscaping or civic spaces around the building.
Interior models include halls, rooms, floors showing interior planning, finishes, colours, furniture and beautification.
Landscaping design models include design and development representing features such as walkways, small bridges, pergolas, vegetation patterns and beautification. Landscaping design models usually represent public spaces and may, in some cases, include buildings as well.
Urban models are typically built at a much smaller scale (starting from 1:500 and less, 1:700, 1:1000, 1:1200, 1:2000, 1:2000, representing several city blocks, even whole town or village, large resort, campus, industrial facility, military base. Urban models are key to town or city planning.
By Hamed Al Sewerky
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
