Comments on: Where can I find a 3D scale model of Manhattan?

Question: Where can I find a 3D scale model of Manhattan?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:10:36 -0800

Where can I find a 3D scale model of Manhattan?

I saw a show on Dutch TV today which featured French architect Pierre David providing the viewer with an architectural tour of Manhattan (I think it may have been a French production). On his desk, he seemed to have a model of most major buildings on the island (it was very briefly shown) - perhaps not all buildings but the rough geography and relative heights of most neighbourhoods, plus the very well-known buildings in Midtown and Lower Manhattan in great detail. It was like a much cooler, hardware version of Google Earth's building outlines.

I suspect this may have been a one-off, inaffordable architect's toy, but do you know of anything similar?

By: dydecker

dydecker — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:28:00 -0800

The City Models Exhibition on the 50th floor of Mori Tower in Tokyo has amazingly huge and intricate 3D scale models of Manhattan, Tokyo, and Shanghai on display.

links here

By: CrazyJoel

CrazyJoel — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 09:30:22 -0800

google earth?

By: CrazyJoel

CrazyJoel — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 09:30:47 -0800

bah sorry

By: teleskiving

teleskiving — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 09:32:55 -0800

I hope this isn't too much of a non-answer but if you like this kind of thing you might be interested in the Pipers London Model.

By: jamesonandwater

jamesonandwater — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 09:51:21 -0800

My clients (architects) always have these models for presentations etc., although they usually represent several blocks or a neighbourhood rather than the whole island. I'm pretty sure there must be several architectural model-making firms that have them somewhat ready-to-go, but as to who they are I couldn't help. Do you know any local architects whose brains you could pick?

By: Vidiot

Vidiot — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 10:10:33 -0800

It'd be hard to take it home with you, but I absolutely recommend a visit to the Panorama of New York City at the Queens Museum of Art.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 10:50:58 -0800

This site sells software CAD models. Which is not what you want, but the image on that page shows what one would look like. Flatter than I expected.

By: Dick Paris

Dick Paris — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:11:44 -0800

I thought the BYTES of the BIG APPLE - New York City Department of City Planning would have a model available for use by planners and architects but I could not find one. Most major cities who give a rat's ass about their city scape have a physical model of the city which planners/architects can use as a resource. Contact the city planning office or try the schools of architecture at Columbia and Yale.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 16:41:00 -0800

(This would be a great high school shop class project. Child's play if you have a rough computer model and a CNC router.)