Base Models
Base Models is a London-based architectural model making studio, founded in 2006, that produces bespoke physical scale models for elite architectural practices, developers, and cultural institutions using 3D printing, laser cutting, and traditional craftsmanship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Base Models does
Base Models Ltd. is a London-based, privately held architectural model making studio founded in 2006 by Matt Driscoll and currently run by Directors Matt Driscoll and Mark Luggie. Operating from a workshop in Battersea (Arch 697 Gladstone Court, SW8 4AT), the company produces bespoke physical scale models for architectural practices, property developers, and cultural institutions, covering competition, design development, planning, and exhibition use cases. The firm is small, with approximately 13 employees, and generates revenue on a purely project-based, custom-quoted basis with no recurring subscription component.
The core offering combines traditional model-making craftsmanship with modern digital fabrication, including 3D printing, laser cutting, and bespoke manufacturing using diverse materials such as perspex, maple, timber, steel, cherry timber, and acrylic. The product surface is organized by scale — Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large — and extended with add-on services covering model transport, plinth making, and signage. Notable technical and reputational milestones include models exhibited at Tate Britain, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, 10 Downing Street, Haus der Kunst, the Norman Foster Foundation, the Venice Architecture Biennale, MIPIM, and Cityscape Global, as well as a Mars Habitat model produced for the NASA 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge and shown at the Design Museum's 'Moving to Mars' exhibition.
Commercially, Base Models pursues a sales-led, relationship-driven go-to-market with no intermediary distribution. Marketing is concentrated on a portfolio website segmented by project size and an active Instagram feed, while new business is sourced primarily via word-of-mouth and referrals from an established client base that includes Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners, Heatherwick Studio, Grimshaw, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, David Adjaye Associates, Arup, Aecom, Mace, Skanska, Berkeley Homes, Tate Britain, and the Royal Academy of Arts. Projects have been delivered internationally — including in China, Turkey, Poland, Oman, Qatar, Sweden, India, and France — despite the single-workshop operating model. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company is independently owned with no external funding or parent entity.
Base Models firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Base Models
- Legal name
- Base Models Ltd.
- Website
- https://base-models.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Base Models is a London-based architectural model making studio, founded in 2006, that produces bespoke physical scale models for elite architectural practices, developers, and cultural institutions using 3D printing, laser cutting, and traditional craftsmanship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Base Models industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Model Making Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Prototype Program Management & Low-Volume Pilot Runs (Bridge to Production) (IMAAAFAO)
Keywords
Where Base Models is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Base Models business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Architectural Model Making: Project-based custom model making services for architectural firms, developers, and design practices. Services include bespoke manufacturing, 3D printing, laser cutting, model transport, plinth making, and signage. Revenue is generated on a per-project basis with no recurring subscription component.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Base Models product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Base Models is a London-based architectural model making studio that produces bespoke physical scale models for architectural practices, property developers, and cultural institutions. The studio combines traditional craftsmanship with modern fabrication techniques including 3D printing and laser cutting to deliver models for competition, design development, planning, and exhibition purposes. Services span from small residential models to large international developments and include model transport, plinth making, and signage as part of complete project delivery.
Product overview
Base Models operates as a single unified service offering architectural model making for design communication. The core offering includes bespoke manufacturing, 3D printing, and laser cutting services, supplemented by model transport, plinth making, and signage add-on services. Their portfolio is organized by scale into four sub-products: Small (residential/interior models), Medium (stadiums/commercial models), Large (airports/hospitals), and Extra Large (major developments/exhibitions). The company positions itself as providing architect-led making for competition, design development, planning, and exhibition purposes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Model Making Services Custom architectural model making for architectural practices, property developers, and cultural institutions. Combines traditional craftsmanship with 3D printing, laser cutting, and bespoke manufacturing to deliver models for competition, design development, planning, and exhibition purposes across all project scales.
- Model Transport Services Transportation and logistics services for delivering completed architectural models to clients and exhibition venues. Supports safe handling of fragile or oversized models for the studio's architectural and cultural institution clients.
- Plinth Making Custom base and display plinth fabrication for architectural model presentation and exhibition. Provides a finished presentation solution for delivering models to clients and exhibitions.
- Signage Services Design and production of signage for architectural models and displays. Provides accompanying interpretive or branded signage for models presented in exhibitions, marketing suites, and competition entries.
Companies that use Base Models
Customer profileNamed customers25 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Base Models technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Base Models partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Base Models competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Modelcraft: UK architectural and design model maker serving architects, developers, and engineers. Comparable in offering bespoke architectural models and in serving the same UK practice clientele.
- RJ Models: London-based architectural model makers producing high-end presentation, planning, and competition models for major practices. Closest direct peer given shared London base, architectural client base, and overlapping one-time project revenue model.
- 1:1 Modelmaking: UK architectural model makers producing presentation, competition, and planning models. Comparable service offering and customer overlap with architectural practices in the UK and internationally.
- Hedgehog Modelmaking: London-based architectural model maker producing bespoke models for design development, planning, and exhibition. Directly comparable in scale, craft approach, and target customer (architectural practices).
Emerging players
- Goppion: Specialist in museum display cases and bespoke exhibition fabrication for cultural institutions. Comparable in serving Tate, National Gallery, and similar cultural clients with bespoke, high-craft physical installations.
Broad incumbents
- Foster + Partners (in-house Model Workshop): Global architecture practice with significant in-house model-making capability for competitions and client presentations. Compares as a buyer of similar craft services and a potential internal substitute for parts of Base Models' offering.
Others
- Materialise: Industrial 3D printing service provider serving architecture, automotive, and healthcare. Comparable as a 3D printing backbone used by Base Models for architectural component production, and as a substitute for in-house additive manufacturing.
Regional players
- Baumgart Modellbau: German architectural and exhibition model maker serving European practices and developers. Comparable craft, materials, and architectural customer base, but primarily serves DACH-region clients.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Base Models social profiles
Digital presenceBase Models financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Base Models leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Base Models funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Base Models M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Base Models
What does Base Models do?
Base Models is a London-based architectural model making studio that produces bespoke physical scale models for architectural practices, property developers, and cultural institutions. The studio combines traditional craftsmanship with modern fabrication techniques including 3D printing and laser cutting to deliver models for competition, design development, planning, and exhibition purposes. Services span from small residential models to large international developments and include model transport, plinth making, and signage as part of complete project delivery.
Is Base Models a public or private company?
Base Models is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Base Models founded?
Base Models was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Base Models based?
Base Models is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Base Models make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Architectural Model Making.
Who are Base Models's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Modelcraft, RJ Models, 1:1 Modelmaking and Hedgehog Modelmaking. Goppion is listed as an emerging player. Foster + Partners (in-house Model Workshop) is listed as a broad incumbent. Materialise is listed as an others. Baumgart Modellbau is listed as a regional player.
Does Base Models have an API?
No public API is recorded for Base Models.
What industry is Base Models in?
Base Models's product category is Architectural Model Making Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAK, Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services, with a secondary code of IMAAAFAO, Prototype Program Management & Low-Volume Pilot Runs (Bridge to Production). Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 7330.