Launching 3D Modeling Department Stores: Sheffield’s John Walsh, 1899

I’m happy to share the completed first full version of the 3D model of John Walsh’s 1899 building. The model has the basics of exterior and interior structures, with support columns, windows, and staircases. This project involved a combination of technical skills and design interpretation. Thanks to the CHI and LEADR community for helping and supporting my building endeavors!

My original plan was to build each floor separately and then combine them in one file. I had drafts of some floors and wanted to make each floor its own model. Early on I changed paths and simply made a single model, working from the ground floor up. Once I chose this path, I built each staircase to have a frame of reference for the upper floors. From there, I was able to work up from interior walls and structural points of reference. For the exterior, I combined information from the plans with images of the building. Some of the purely decorative elements, for example balconies on the upper floors, I left off this version.

This project was very rewarding but included a steep learning curve. Seeing the current version and its general resemblance to the original (to see an image of the original, visit https://shorturl.at/WwHjC and for more images of the model, visit https://mknaak.hcommons.org/dh-projects/) shows me that it was worthwhile. The interior and the comparison between the front-of-house and back-of-house spaces further my analysis of spatial divisions within department stores and how those divisions conveyed meaning. However, many elements of this project required second, third, or even fourth tries. In building some of the more intricate elements, for example the windows and roof, I had to work to my skill level, not necessarily what I imagined or read on the plans. The actual work of building took longer than I had anticipated, with even the most straightforward tasks taking hours. Additionally, as I continued to work, I learned new skills and tools which changed how I built the model or interpreted the plans.

In the future, I plan to continue working on this model and creating the individual floor models. I also want to import the file to an AR viewing program to work and create an AR experience. I also have plans to expand this project to other department stores in different cities in the same time period.