Mies van der Rohe
Mansion House Square
Model Trees
Conservation & Restoration
The three Mies van der Rohe Mansion House Square architectural models and their component parts were almost entirely complete.
Only the 1:96 scale model was missing its proposed water garden, a bridge link, cars, buses and the 13 handmade wire model trees.
These trees and planting were of particular importance to the project as the square would have been used by city workers at lunch times, summer evenings and to hold special events including the Lord Mayor of London Show.
The additional trees would have also softened the surrounding architecture along with the 6 existing trees sited around Bucklesbury House.
It was agreed with RIBA to reproduce the new model trees using similar materials and methodology as the originals created in the 1980’s.
Mansion House Square Model Trees - 26 Meters of twisted copper wire make each detailed 1:96 scale model tree.
Mies van der Rohe was particularly fond of this foliage material for landscaping and trees. He often used it in his own architectural practice and can be seen on many of his architectural models.
This was not a normal model making material and even with Simon’s specialist knowledge it took considerable amount of time to source.
Production of wired model trees, unique foliage which Mies van der Rohe was fond of using on his architectural models.
Eventually a manufacture was found who could produce the material; a large quantity of material was purchased. In fact there was enough material to create 250 trees. In due course after some considerable practice the manufacturer was able to cut the 2m x 1m block of foliage material into ultra-thin sheets of 1, 1.5 and 2mm thickness.
These thin sheets of dark grey material were lightly sprayed with an inert paint to match the exiting dark green landscaping foliage.
Amazingly each of the 13 model trees took between 22 and 26 meters of thin copper wire to produce a single tree (320 meters in total), with each one taking approximately three hours to twist into realistic London Plane deciduous trees.
The twisted copper wire trees were then primed, prior to being sprayed and speckled with brown paint, to match the original model tree trunk colour. Once the paint had fully hardened the foliage material could be applied using adhesive to provide perfect Mies model trees.
Mies van der Rohe Model Trees Completed and ready for installation in RIBA architectural exhibition:
“Mies van der Rohe and James Stirling: Circling the Square”
Prior to the models being loaned by Lord Peter Palumbo in 2016, they had been stored in poor environmental conditions. This exposure had caused the landscaped areas and planting on the Mansion House Square to perish and turn to dust.
Mies van der Rohe Public Square - Completely conserved and restored with its trees and landscaping.
The original foliage that could be conserved was blended with the newly produced foliage material. This proved such a perfect match that even under high magnification it could not be distinguished from the original.
In fact a case could be made that as one of the original model makers of the Mansion House Square models, the new Mies trees are still authentic, just produced 34 years later.
Mies van der Rohe Mansion House Square Articles
History of the Mies van der Rohe Mansion House Square - Part 1 >>
Mansion House Square Model Restoration & Conservation - Part 2 >>
Mies van der Rohe - Mansion House Square Tower - Part 3 >>
Mies van der Rohe - Mansion House Square Shopping Concourse - Part 4 >>
Mies van der Rohe - Mansion House Square Existing Buildings - Part 5 >>
James Stirling No 1 Poultry City of London Model - Part 7 >>
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Mies van der Rohe Mansion House Square Articles
History of the Mies van der Rohe Mansion House Square - Part 1 >>
Mansion House Square Model Restoration & Conservation - Part 2 >>
Mies van der Rohe - Mansion House Square Shopping Concourse - Part 4 >>
Mies van der Rohe - Mansion House Square Existing Buildings - Part 5 >>
James Stirling No 1 Poultry City of London Model - Part 7 >>
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