Unit 22 Modelmakers
Unit 22 Modelmakers is a London-based, founder-led model-making practice founded in 1984 that produces bespoke architectural and creative physical models for UK enterprise clients including architects, real estate developers, and product designers, bundling fabrication, interactive lighting, and global logistics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Unit 22 Modelmakers does
Unit 22 Modelmakers Ltd is a UK-based, founder-managed architectural and creative model-making practice founded in 1984 and operating from a fully equipped Central London studio near Tower Bridge at 50 Druid Street, SE1. The company produces bespoke physical models for architectural practices and real estate developers, spanning conceptual, exhibition, full-colour, illuminated, marketing, monochrome, planning, reduced-palette, sectional and interior, structures and bridges, timber, and topographical categories, and offers bundled services including interactive apartment-finding lighting systems, acrylic fabrication, custom display plinths, shipping crates, installation, and fully insured global logistics. Production combines traditional craftsmanship with modern fabrication techniques including laser cutting, 3D printing, and general machining.
The business model is project-based bespoke commission work priced per quote against complexity, scale, materials, and logistics requirements, with revenue primarily generated through one-off model orders and related professional services rather than recurring licensing or subscription. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via direct studio engagement, sustained by a reputation-driven referral network and an extensive online portfolio gallery; named enterprise clients include Galliard Homes (25+ years), Horden Cherry Lee Architects (20+ years), Future Systems, Grimshaw Architects, Stephen Marshall Architects, and Wingback. The company has also extended into a Creative production division covering events, packaging, retail fit-outs, signage, transport, photoshoots, products, and trophies and medals, broadening the addressable customer base beyond architecture and property development.
Unit 22 Modelmakers Ltd is a private limited company with no external investors, no parent entity, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds, operating as a founder-led studio with a small in-house team of experienced craftspeople led by Adam Burdett. Geographic operations are headquartered in the United Kingdom with global logistics capability for project delivery; technology investment centres on fabrication equipment and proprietary interactive lighting rather than software, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities.
Unit 22 Modelmakers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unit 22 Modelmakers
- Legal name
- Unit 22 Modelmakers Ltd
- Website
- https://unit22.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Unit 22 Modelmakers is a London-based, founder-led model-making practice founded in 1984 that produces bespoke architectural and creative physical models for UK enterprise clients including architects, real estate developers, and product designers, bundling fabrication, interactive lighting, and global logistics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unit 22 Modelmakers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Model Making
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (54142), Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM), Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG)
Keywords
Where Unit 22 Modelmakers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Unit 22 Modelmakers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Model Making: Bespoke architectural and creative model production tailored to exact client specifications. Revenue generated through project-based commissions with pricing based on complexity, scale, and materials required.
- Related Services: Additional revenue from interactive lighting systems, acrylic fabrication, display plinths, shipping crates, installation and logistics services bundled with model orders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Unit 22 Modelmakers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unit 22 Modelmakers designs, fabricates and delivers bespoke physical architectural and creative models for enterprise clients. The company produces custom architectural models across categories such as Conceptual, Exhibition, Full Colour, Illuminated, Marketing, Planning, Topographical and Timber, and runs a parallel Creative production division covering events, packaging, products, retail fit-outs, signage, transport, photoshoots, and trophies and medals. Services are bundled with project-specific extras including interactive lighting systems, acrylic presentation covers, display plinths, shipping crates, installation, and fully insured global logistics.
Product overview
Unit 22 Modelmakers is a UK-based model-making practice offering physical architectural models and creative production services. The core offering is Architectural Models (divided into subcategories: Conceptual, Exhibition, Full Colour, Illuminated, Marketing, Monochrome, Planning, Reduced Palette, Sectional and Interior, Structures and Bridges, Timber, and Topographical). Supporting services include Interactive Lighting Systems, Acrylic Fabrication, Custom Display Plinths, Laser Cutting, 3D Printing, General Machining, Retail Fit-Outs, Events Installations, and Global Logistics. The Creative division covers Events, Packaging, Photoshoots, Products, Retail, Signage, Transport, and Trophies and Medals. The company operates from a Central London studio near Tower Bridge.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Models Bespoke physical architectural models for architects, developers and designers, spanning conceptual, exhibition, planning, marketing, illuminated, sectional, structural, timber, and topographical categories. Each model is meticulously planned and produced to meet the exact specification of the client.
- Creative Production Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 25+ years of consistent service for flagship clients like Galliard Homes
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Unit 22 Modelmakers
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Unit 22 Modelmakers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Unit 22 Modelmakers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Unit 22 Modelmakers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Seeper: Experiential technology and interactive installation studio creating immersive environments for events, retail, and brand activations — adjacent competitor in the events/props/installation space.
- Twinmotion: Real-time immersive 3D visualisation platform (Epic Games) increasingly used by architects and developers for marketing and client walkthroughs — emerging substitute for physical architectural models.
- Jason Bruges Studio: London-based experiential design studio working at the intersection of architecture, art, and technology — overlapping with Unit 22's creative production work on installations, retail fit-outs, and events.
Direct peers
- Modelworks Studio: UK-based architectural and display model maker producing bespoke models for architects, developers, and exhibitions — competing in the same craft-based niche as Unit 22.
- RJ Models: Established London architectural model maker producing conceptual, presentation, marketing, and planning models for major UK and international architects and developers — a like-for-like competitor to Unit 22.
- SDC Modelmakers: UK architectural model maker producing high-quality presentation, planning, and marketing models for architects and developers — competing for the same enterprise client base as Unit 22.
- MDA Models: London-based architectural and developer model maker offering bespoke physical models for architects, property developers, and planners — directly competing with Unit 22 in the same UK premium segment.
- Pipers Model Makers: UK-based architectural model maker with a long history serving architects and developers on planning, marketing, and presentation models — a direct peer in the same craft-based UK niche.
Broad incumbents
- Enscape: Real-time architectural visualisation and rendering software widely used by architects for client presentations and marketing imagery — a substitution threat to physical architectural models in some use cases.
- Lumion: Architectural visualisation software enabling architects to produce photorealistic 3D renderings and videos for client presentations — an indirect competitor to physical model making for some presentation use cases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Unit 22 Modelmakers social profiles
Digital presenceUnit 22 Modelmakers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unit 22 Modelmakers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Unit 22 Modelmakers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unit 22 Modelmakers 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 Unit 22 Modelmakers
What does Unit 22 Modelmakers do?
Unit 22 Modelmakers designs, fabricates and delivers bespoke physical architectural and creative models for enterprise clients. The company produces custom architectural models across categories such as Conceptual, Exhibition, Full Colour, Illuminated, Marketing, Planning, Topographical and Timber, and runs a parallel Creative production division covering events, packaging, products, retail fit-outs, signage, transport, photoshoots, and trophies and medals. Services are bundled with project-specific extras including interactive lighting systems, acrylic presentation covers, display plinths, shipping crates, installation, and fully insured global logistics.
Is Unit 22 Modelmakers a public or private company?
Unit 22 Modelmakers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Unit 22 Modelmakers founded?
Unit 22 Modelmakers was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Unit 22 Modelmakers based?
Unit 22 Modelmakers is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Unit 22 Modelmakers make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Model Making is the primary driver. The others are related Services.
Who are Unit 22 Modelmakers's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Seeper, Twinmotion and Jason Bruges Studio. Direct peers are Modelworks Studio, RJ Models, SDC Modelmakers, MDA Models and Pipers Model Makers. Broad incumbents are Enscape and Lumion.
Does Unit 22 Modelmakers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Unit 22 Modelmakers.
What industry is Unit 22 Modelmakers in?
Unit 22 Modelmakers's product category is Architectural Model Making. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAL, Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design. Its NAICS code is 54142 and its SIC code is 7330.