Interactive display shows city’s past and future
New London Architecture (NLA) has unveiled a new interactive model of London in the NLA galleries at The Building Centre. Measuring 12.5 metres in length, the New London Model provides a focal point for Londoners and tourists to learn about the history and future development of the capital. The model replaces its predecessor, first unveiled at the organisation’s inception a decade ago, the day after the announcement that London had won the Olympic bid.
Built by Pipers with data supplied by Ordnance Survey, the 1:2000 scale model covers more than 85 square kilometres of London, 19 Boroughs and approximately 170,000 buildings, including 34km of the Thames with its corresponding 21 bridges.
A sophisticated projection and lighting system allows buildings and major infrastructure projects to be digitally animated across the surface of the model. Controlled by touchscreens, visitors are able to call up detailed information and key facts on London’s newest buildings and future projects that will help to define the capital. The model is the city’s only physical manifestation of how London will look and progress as new buildings and developments are given the go-ahead.
A series of five bespoke interactive films, integrated with live projections, bring the story of London’s past and future physical development to life. Key moments in history that have shaped the fabric of the city are displayed through sophisticated lighting displays and audio presentations, such as the Great Fire of London in 1666. This event is dramatically visualised on the model as the ‘Square Mile’ of the city of London appears to burn while the rest of the city is plunged into darkness, highlighting the terror and devastation that ravaged London.
The future development of the city is represented with the location of the 263 tall buildings planned or under construction in London mapped across the model. Visitors are also able to track the route and impact of new transport links.
The New London Model will offer an ever-evolving display, allowing visitors to see how the city will adapt and change, creating a newly improved centre of discussion for London. Regular architectural walking tours of eight central London neighbourhoods — taking place on the second Saturday and last Wednesday of each month — will further reveal how the capital’s buildings and streetscapes are changing.