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Discover More About the History and Heritage of Architectural Modelmaking

Thorp Archive
1 min read
Historic photograph showing architectural modelmakers transporting a large architectural model.
Architectural modelmakers moving a large-scale model during production.
Explore a curated selection of websites, archives, and publications that reveal the history, practice, and cultural significance of architectural modelmaking in Britain and beyond.

The Thorp Archive is an important record of the history and heritage of architectural modelmaking in Britain, but it is not the only source available if you are interested in learning more. Below we have curated a list of the best resources to deepen your knowledge of this fascinating profession.

Websites

Books

  • The Architectural Models of Theodore Conrad: Teresa Fankhanel (Bloomsbury, 2021)
  • A History of Architectural Modelmaking in Britain. David Lund (Routledge, 2023)
  • Model Britain: The Architectural Models of Twentieth Century Dreams. David Lund (Routledge, 2025)
  • The Architectural Model: Histories of the Miniature and the Prototype, the Exemplar and the Muse. Matthew Mindrup (MIT Press, 2019)
  • Modelling Messages: The Architect and the Model. Karen Moon (Monacelli Press, 2005)
  • Architectural Supermodels. Tom Porter and John Neale (Architectural Press, 2000)
  • Architectural Model as Machine. Albert C. Smith (Architectural Press, 2004)
  • Modelling the Metropolis: The Architectural Model in Victorian London. Matthew Wells (GTA Verlag, 2023)