At the Forefront of Model Making: Meet Richard Tenguerian
By Katie Vanadzin on July 31, 2014
Special for the Armenian Weekly
Richard Tenguerian’s architectural model making studio is located in
NOHO in New York City. There, Tenguerian and his colleagues create
minute versions of some of the most towering buildings in the world,
real and imagined. The architectural model making business is a highly
specialized niche industry, requiring painstaking attention to detail
and an understanding of the artist’s vision. It is a specialty
practiced by very few, and Tenguerian has acquired a reputation as the
best among them.
Richard Tenguerian with one of his models
“Even in this time of digital technology, the power of building a
model–not a rendering, not a 3D image, not a video flythrough–still
holds sway with both architects and clients. Although many firms do
their own model work, certain projects and clients require the hand of
a master. And Richard Tenguerian is among the best,” said Brauilo
Agnese in the March 2014 issue of “Cool Spaces! The Best New
Architecture.”
Born in Aleppo and raised in Lebanon, Tenguerian discovered his
passion for model making at 14, when he was interning for a large
architectural firm in Lebanon. Even then, he knew his future was in
architecture. After the civil war broke out in 1975, Tenguerian moved
to the U.S. to live with his aunt in New York. He studied architecture
at Pratt Institute, and graduated in 1984. While studying at Pratt, he
worked as a model maker to finance his college education.
An example of Tenguerian’s work
Tenguerian had planned to work as an architect, but he found that
there was a much greater demand for his skills as a model maker. In
1988, he founded Tenguerian Models. The demand for architectural
models has since spread all over the world. Tenguerian has had the
opportunity to prepare physical models for many high-profile projects
and travel all around the world.
The quality of his work stems from innate craftsmanship combined with
the use of advanced technology. “Relying only on technology, the
product loses its spirit and does not become a work of art,” he says.
Each of Tenguerian’s models is custom-made, even down to the shade of
paint. “Every project is unique in its own way and they all have a
story behind them. People often look at display models and think model
building is only cutting and pasting. However, there is much more to
building a model. A model maker translates the architect’s invisible
vision and turns it into a visible reality. Outstanding capabilities
of mind and soul are required for such a demanding role in
architectural creative order. Only perfect communication with the
architect and faultless understanding of his purpose can create the
professional environment where such translation into three-dimensional
space may happen. The profession can be very demanding. What keeps me
going are the different experiences and the creative processes that
make each model memorable. We look at our models not like products,
but pieces of original artwork.”
Tenguerian’s artistic approach does not mean that he is averse to
technology. Many of his models come fitted with lighting that can
often be controlled remotely. Components are sometimes made using
laser cutting and 3D printing, and the result is a perfect synthesis
of modern technology and hands-on craftsmanship. But it is
Tenguerian’s innate ability to visualize a building that sets his
finished products apart from the competition. He explains, “There is a
process but no formula that someone can follow and visualize. It is
more like reading someone else’s mind instantaneously before they
complete a sentence. This is one of the unique characteristics of this
profession.”
The visualization often remains with Tenguerian long after the model
has been carefully packaged in a custom-built wooden case and shipped
to the client. “Every time I see a project in real life and I walk
through it, I feel like I have already been there. I feel shrunk and
it feels like I am walking through my model. Even though the building
is brand new, I know where everything is and how to get around.”
The primary importance of models lies in their power to convey
visually what blueprints and descriptions often cannot. The intricacy
and detail of Tenguerian’s models bring architectural visions to life:
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a model is surely worth
thousands more. As Tenguerian puts it, “Architects always struggle to
convey their vision to their clients. Developers often cannot
visualize the architect’s idea or concept. Therefore, physical models
are the unspoken language between architects and the client.”
Models at times have audiences beyond the clients of architects. When
CBS News was preparing a “60 Minutes” episode about the SEAL raid on
Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, the producers felt
that the best way for viewers to visualize the raid was through the
use of a model. And for that model, they turned to Tenguerian. His
model of the compound now resides as an exhibit at the Navy SEAL
Museum in Fort Pierce, Fla.
Working with architect Vatche Aslanian, the plans were drafted and
approved, and the Church of Saint Gregory the Enlightener was
constructed and has been in use for over a decade.
When asked if the process of creating a model of an existing building
is different from creating one from a blueprint, Tenguerian explained,
“The definition of a model can be very broad. Model makers can build a
replica of an existing building or can build from sketches on a napkin
where the building is just a vision. Our expertise is to transform
something from [the] virtual world into physical reality.” In his
case, the transformation is a seamless one.
Tenguerian has also had the chance to put his skills to use for the
benefit of the Armenian community. A life-long attendee of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, Tenguerian cites it as a source of
inspiration. When he was approached by Father Karekin Kasbarian about
building an Armenian church in Westchester, N.Y., he became heavily
involved in the project. Working with architect Vatche Aslanian, the
plans were drafted and approved, and the Church of Saint Gregory the
Enlightener was constructed and has been in use for over a decade.
“We should not take things for granted,” Tenguerian says. “We should
grab every opportunity. Everything is possible when someone is
passionate, committed, and works hard towards their vision.”