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SimpsonHaugh Architects

Manchester, Birmingham and London, UK
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Practice Statement

We see physical modelmaking as a fundamental part of our design development process. Models are used throughout - from early conceptual stages to detailed design refinement - and serve, for example, as tools for in-house exploration of ideas, client engagement with the design process, and more effective public consultation and feedback. 

Despite advances in digital modelling, we believe physical models offer a unique, tactile experience that enhances architectural thinking in ways that digital tools cannot replicate. The physical act of making remains irreplaceable to us as a medium for exploring design and making decisions – complementing what can be communicated digitally. We incorporate models into almost every project, using different types and scales of models at each stage of design.

Our in-studio model shop allows close collaboration between our model makers and project teams. Together, they explore materials, textures, and construction techniques to produce models that are viable, constructive, informative, and visually compelling. This interaction encourages curiosity and questioning, testing and experimentation, challenge and dialogue, enriching the architecture that emerges from it.

Models are pivotal in translating drawings into tangible physicality, helping us test ideas, understand scale, and communicate spatial qualities and impacts. As communication tools, they foster more meaningful discussions with clients and communities, making potentially complex proposals more accessible and inclusive. We often find they amplify dialogue – shaping design decisions collaboratively. 

Ultimately, making matters to us because it brings creativity and design to life. It bridges the gap between the envisioned and the tangible, supporting collective review and shared understanding and vision. In an increasingly digital world, we see the craft of modelmaking not only as a vital design tool but as a skill to be protected and celebrated.

Our models are not static - they are inherently iterative, reflecting, responding to and informing the creative process. We try to keep them all as a record of our design evolution: each one a stepping stone toward the final built form. 

SimpsonHaugh Architects
Great Northern, 1:500, Presentation Model This 1:500 scale model for the mixed-use Great Northern project in Manchester was originally created for display during a public consultation as part of the formal planning process, and has since been used to present the principles of the scheme in many other formal and informal settings, with audiences ranging from funders and investors to potential contractors. The full site is represented, allowing people to view the proposal in its entirety from every orientation, providing a comprehensive representation of the scheme’s architectural vision and relationship to the surrounding city context. At the heart of our proposals is the sensitive refurbishment and redevelopment of the Grade II* listed Warehouse and Grade II listed Deansgate Terrace for office, leisure, and retail use. The model clearly communicates how these important historic buildings anchor the development, helping to explain the way in which the proposed new buildings and spaces have been designed to respect and complement their architectural language and established urban presence. The model is an example of how careful attention to crafted detail can be used to successfully express the fundamental architectural principles and ethos of a design proposal, fostering successful engagement with stakeholders, and helping to create an inclusive design process. Materials: Obeche Wood, Sapele Wood, Balsa Wood, Acrylic | Techniques: Laser cutting, Traditional handcraft techniques Model Maker: Kaia Williams
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Great Northern, 1:500, Presentation Model This 1:500 scale model for the mixed-use Great Northern project in Manchester was originally created for display during a public consultation as part of the formal planning process, and has since been used to present the principles of the scheme in many other formal and informal settings, with audiences ranging from funders and investors to potential contractors. The full site is represented, allowing people to view the proposal in its entirety from every orientation, providing a comprehensive representation of the scheme’s architectural vision and relationship to the surrounding city context. At the heart of our proposals is the sensitive refurbishment and redevelopment of the Grade II* listed Warehouse and Grade II listed Deansgate Terrace for office, leisure, and retail use. The model clearly communicates how these important historic buildings anchor the development, helping to explain the way in which the proposed new buildings and spaces have been designed to respect and complement their architectural language and established urban presence. The model is an example of how careful attention to crafted detail can be used to successfully express the fundamental architectural principles and ethos of a design proposal, fostering successful engagement with stakeholders, and helping to create an inclusive design process. Materials: Obeche Wood, Sapele Wood, Balsa Wood, Acrylic | Techniques: Laser cutting, Traditional handcraft techniques Model Maker: Kaia Williams
Student Bedroom Model, 1:20, Internal Layout Model This set of two 1:20 scale student room layout models were produced as part of a competition submission for a purpose built student accommodation project. Their purpose was to clearly communicate the spatial quality, proportions, and functionality of the proposed interiors at a detailed and relatable scale. Each student room was carefully modelled in two halves, allowing clear views and enhancing the ability to read and understand the proposed internal space. The models provided both the client and prospective end user with a tangible representation of how the rooms could be comfortably inhabited and personalised. They reinforced the idea that although the rooms are similar in size and furniture provision, each can be adapted to respond to, and reflect, an individual student’s identity. Familiar everyday objects, such as plants, books, headphones, lamps, coffee cups and even a teddy bear, were included to make the design relatable, and to encourage the client or other viewers to imagine inhabiting the space. These items were intentionally left loose in the models, allowing stakeholders to directly personalise the rooms and interact with the space. Materials: Cork, Recycled card, Textured paper, Model board, Perspex | Techniques: Laser cutting, Traditional handcraft techniques Model Maker: Kaia Williams & Saul Parker Backhouse, Assistant Model Maker
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Student Bedroom Model, 1:20, Internal Layout Model This set of two 1:20 scale student room layout models were produced as part of a competition submission for a purpose built student accommodation project. Their purpose was to clearly communicate the spatial quality, proportions, and functionality of the proposed interiors at a detailed and relatable scale. Each student room was carefully modelled in two halves, allowing clear views and enhancing the ability to read and understand the proposed internal space. The models provided both the client and prospective end user with a tangible representation of how the rooms could be comfortably inhabited and personalised. They reinforced the idea that although the rooms are similar in size and furniture provision, each can be adapted to respond to, and reflect, an individual student’s identity. Familiar everyday objects, such as plants, books, headphones, lamps, coffee cups and even a teddy bear, were included to make the design relatable, and to encourage the client or other viewers to imagine inhabiting the space. These items were intentionally left loose in the models, allowing stakeholders to directly personalise the rooms and interact with the space. Materials: Cork, Recycled card, Textured paper, Model board, Perspex | Techniques: Laser cutting, Traditional handcraft techniques Model Maker: Kaia Williams & Saul Parker Backhouse, Assistant Model Maker
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