Large metal sign with perforated panels that spells out the word Kashiwanoha

One Model Builder, A Thousand Miniature Cars

Large metal sign with perforated panels that spells out the word Kashiwanoha

One Model Builder, A Thousand Miniature Cars

Methodology April 28, 2022

©Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now. Learn more about Miranda below. 

Miranda Shum works in our Portland fabrication shop as a model builder. You might not guess it based on her job title, but in addition to studying architecture at University of Oregon, Miranda also studied ballet for 14 years, has played piano for 10 years and violin for 12 years, and she is fluent in Mandarin.

Why do you love working in architecture and design? Architecture has a foot in the door of every field of art. Sort of the mother of all art forms, architecture has given me the opportunity to learn a little bit about everything and that is what I love most.

How did you make your way into the model shop at ZGF? In college, Robert Petty, our design shop manager, came to my class to give a talk on model making. In just 30 minutes, my view on models went from a fun pastime that also happened to be a time-consuming homework assignment, to an extremely effective tool in design communication. For a long time, ZGF has been a huge advocate for model making. Coupled with my love for making things with my hands, I knew from that moment on, I didn’t want a work-life chained to a desk but one that made miniature ones.

What is the most memorable project you’ve worked on? One of the most memorable projects I have ever worked on is the signage for Kashiwa-no-ha. Not only was it amazing to witness the project from beginning to end, which is rare for a model maker who usually work on multiple projects in short intervals, but it was such a delight to see the whole design team working together in the model shop, brainstorming ideas and playing around with materials. That design process was so effective and enjoyable that everyone came out of it learning something new. I personally got to witness the design evolution from concept to mock-up to actual construction. On top of it all, the model shop gained a new tool in its arsenal and I gained a new skill set, acrylic bending.

Miranda next to large sign of the letter K

In partnership with Mitsui Fudosan, ZGF planned and designed an ecodistrict for Kashiwa, a suburb of Tokyo, Japan. The dramatic signage symbolizes the cooperation and solidarity between the public, private, and academic centers involved in the neighborhood development. ©Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

Individual letters were fabricated in ZGF's Portland office using 3-D modeling and laser-cut mockups to create the letter sytle and size. After many prototypes, a tab like perforation was the most successful at creating maximum visibility. 

What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on? Surprisingly, one of the most challenging things has not been a specific project but the act of squeezing very large models through very tiny doorways. Solutions include tricking the elevator into thinking it cannot close, parading a model across an office floor like a palanquin, or cantilevering over a two-story stairwell to make a turn.

What’s on your bench right now? A thousand miniature cars!

Outside the model shop we’ll likely find you… Making custom furniture and artwork for my condo out of the scraps and leftover samples of past ZGF projects.

Dogs or cats? Dogs.

Favorite quote? “Sleep when I die,” a quote from my mother that best describes our ambition to live a very productive and busy life.

Favorite TV/movie character? Miranda Priestly from the “The Devil Wears Prada.”

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