HOW WE GOT STARTED
Microscape began as a fairly casual side project. To see whether the rest of the world might love the idea of architectural models as decorative accents as much as we do, we launched a Kickstarter campaign on January 25th, 2016 with an $8,000 funding goal.
Thirty days, over 1300 pre-ordered models and $103,854 later, our campaign ended and we concluded that the answer was probably "yes."
Microscape is now a growing enterprise intent on scanning, processing and printing every inhabited part of the planet. Yes, really.
While 3D scans of cities and 3D printed architectural models are nothing new, Microscape's process and products are unique for their application of several existing technologies in a way that will allow rapid customization, continual updates and an array of material options.
Our print processes and production quality have come a long way in the last few years, but if you'd like to learn a little more about our beginnings, you can view our original Kickstarter campaign video (above).
Our Founders
Alan Silverman, AIA
A registered, NCARB-certified architect licensed to practice in Illinois and New York, Alan began drawing and painting as soon as he was old enough to hold crayons or brushes (around age 3), and began building things as soon as his parents believed he could be trusted not to eat Legos (around age 26).
Using the computer to express architectural and artistic ideas came naturally, and by the early '90s he had transitioned fully from crayons and Legos to the software that would eventually become Autodesk's 3DS Max.
In graduate school he began to pick up freelance architectural rendering work. This grew into a small business – the visualization firm AJSNY – after graduation.
Alan began experimenting with photogrammetry in 2009 – mainly as a way to capture existing conditions and context for use in his rendering work. As so many of AJSNY’s projects involved representing unbuilt projects in their NYC context, he was constantly looking for better, more efficient ways to capture accurate models of the city.
In 2013, he began operating small, consumer-grade UAVs over Manhattan, first for the purpose of direct video compositing (integrating computer generated imagery of building designs into footage of their intended surroundings) and then to collect thousands of high resolution still images for use in assembling detailed photogrammetry models of the city.
Manually refined versions of these models became the basis for Microscape’s original representation of New York City.
Alan holds a BS in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.Arch from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, where he received the 2005 Graduation Award for Excellence in Digital Design
William Ngo, LEED AP
Will received his Masters Degree in Architecture from Columbia University and has been practicing in New York since. Prior to joining TO+WN, Will worked at Stephan Jaklitsch Design, Imrey Culbert Studio and Diller Scofidio and Renfro.
Projects he contributed to include the Louvre-Lens Museum, The Broad Museum and Section 3 of The High Line Park.