Architizer’s Tech Directory is a database of tech tools for architects — from the latest generative design and AI to rendering and visualization, 3D modeling, project management and many more. Explore the complete library of categories here.
It is now more than 10 years since SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse was first created, and support for the “Wikipedia of 3D modeling” shows no signs of dwindling. This vast open-source library is not just a repository of SketchUp models of every kind — architecture and otherwise — it is also home to a thriving online community, with modelers leaving feedback on each other’s work, sharing tips and tricks for modeling in SketchUp and even collaborating on vast, shared models of whole towns and cities with an incredible level of detail.
The statistics for the 3D Warehouse are as extraordinary as the creations to be found within it. As of 2015, more than 2.2 million models had been created and made freely available for download on the platform, with the site garnering an average of 7.7 monthly visits. The proliferation of uploads is all the more remarkable when you consider the work that goes into many 3D models, with many people taking hours or even days perfecting the details of their work before sharing the file for anyone across the globe to enjoy.
In recognition of this modeling altruism, we highlight some of the most well-known architectural icons available within the Warehouse, complete with download links for those wishing to adapt, build upon, design alongside or simply explore this diverse range of landmark structures.
Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright, modeled by Nathan King
“Fallingwater, Bear Run, Pennsylvania, is one of the world’s most famous structures — Frank Lloyd Wright’s gentle nod to the International style, a summer home for wealthy clients, built atop a waterfall. In 1991, AIA members voted it the ‘best all-time work of American architecture,’ although the preservation of the signature cantilevered balconies has proven costly and intensive.” Click here to download the model.
Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut de Ronchamp by Le Corbusier, modeled by Villa
“Completed in 1954, the chapel at Ronchamp is one of the finest examples of the architecture of Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier and one of the most important examples of 20th-century religious architecture.” Click here to download the model.
Sydney Opera House by Jørn Utzon, modeled by Josh Wilson
“In the late 1950s, the New South Wales Government established an appeal fund to finance the construction of the Sydney Opera House and conducted a competition for its design. The winning entry was submitted by Jørn Utzon, but ironically the design was beyond the capabilities of engineering of the time. Construction began in March of 1959 with a cost estimate of $7 million and scheduled completion date of January 1963. After years of setbacks, the Opera House was finally completed in 1973, at a cost of $102 million.” Click here to download the model.
Disney Concert Hall by Gehry Partners, modeled by Google Geo Models
“Frank Gehry’s preliminary design of the Disney Concert Hall actually predates his famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, but fundraising and other problems stalled the Disney project for some 10 years. Laid end to end, the folding, billowing stainless steel exterior panels would stretch for 49 miles. The acoustics of the wood-paneled auditorium are superb.” Click here to download the model.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum by Frank Lloyd Wright, modeled by alsomar | iniciativa gráfica
“The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions throughout the year. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it is one of the 20th century’s most important architectural landmarks. The museum opened on October 21, 1959, and was the second museum opened by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation; from 2005 to 2008, it underwent an extensive renovation.” Click here to download the model.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Niteroi by Oscar Niemeyer, modeled by José Manuel
“Designed by Oscar Niemeyer with the assistance of structural engineer Bruno Contarini, who had worked with Niemeyer on earlier projects, the MAC-Niterói is 16 meters [52 feet] high, and its cupola has a diameter of 50 meters [164 feet] with three floors. The museum projects itself over Boa Viagem beach and also a neighborhood, with a reflecting pool that surrounds the cylindrical base ‘like a flower,’ in the words of Niemeyer.” Click here to download the model.
Douglas House by Richard Meier & Partners Architects, modeled by Zach Moore
“The Douglas House on the shores of Lake Michigan is one of several spectacular residences Richard Meier completed early in his career and that helped to solidify his reputation. The whiteness and pure geometry of the house stand in sharp contrast to the pine trees that surround it. The openness of the plan and the glass elevations ensure dramatic lake and shoreline views throughout.” Click here to download the model.
Wembley Stadium by Foster + Partners, modeled by Damo
“Primarily a football venue, Wembley is owned by The Football Association (The FA) and hosts England’s home international football matches and the main English domestic cup finals. The Stadium is also used for music concerts and other sporting events. One of the most expensive stadiums ever built, Wembley’s 90,000 capacity makes it the second largest stadium in Europe, and it is the largest in the world with every seat under cover.” Click here to download the model.
Centre Pompidou Metz by Shigeru Ban Architects, modeled by TS
“The Centre Pompidou Metz is a museum of modern and contemporary arts located in Metz, capital of Lorraine, France. It is a branch of Pompidou arts centre of Paris and features semipermanent and temporary exhibitions from the large collection of the French National Museum of Modern Art, the largest European collection of 20th- and 21st-century arts.” Click here to download the model.
Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe, modeled by Aaron Davies
“A vital part of American iconography, Mies constructed this glass box residence of ‘almost nothing’ for Dr. Edith Farnsworth as a country retreat along the Fox River in Plano, Illinois. It continued to be a private residence for over 50 years until Landmarks Illinois and the National Trust for Historic Preservation purchased it in 2003. Today it is owned and managed by the Trust and the site is open as a public museum.” Click here to download the model.
National Assembly Building of Bangladesh by Louis Kahn, modeled by tannu
“The National Assembly Building of Bangladesh, called Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, is located in the capital Dhaka. It was created by famed architect Louis I. Kahn and is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world, housing all parliamentary activities of Bangladesh.” Click here to download the model.
Church of the Light by Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, modeled by Vicente C.
“Church of the Light is the Ibaraki Kasugaoka Church’s main chapel. Built in 1989 in the city of Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, the building is one of the most famous designs of Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The Church of the Light is a small structure on the corner of two streets in a residential neighborhood. It is located 25 kilometers [16 miles] north-northeast of Osaka in the western foothills of the Yodo valley railway corridor.” Click here to download the model.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral by Barma and Postnik [debated], modeled by Enrico Dalbosco (Arrigo Silva)
TheCathedral of Vasily the Blessed, commonly known as Saint Basil’s Cathedral,was built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates a capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. A world-famous landmark, it was Moscow’s tallest building until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. The building is shaped as a flame of a bonfire rising into the sky, a design that has no analogues in Russian architecture.” Click here to download the model.
La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudí, modeled by mterreu3
“Construction of Sagrada Família commenced in 1882 by architect Francisco Paula de Villar with Gaudí becoming involved in 1883 after Francisco resigned as the head architect. Taking over the project, Gaudí transformed it with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.” Click here to download the model.
The Empire State Building by Lamb, Harmon and Shreve modeled by CS3Design
“One of the quintessential images of New York City, The Empire State Building is centrally located in Manhattan at 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets. It was completed in 1931 by architects Lamb, Harmon and Shreve and was at the time the tallest building ever built by man until it was surpassed in 1972 by the World Trade Center.” Click here to download the model.
The Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and Gustave Eiffel, modeled by Damo
“The Statue of Liberty, more formally known as Liberty Enlightening the World, was presented to the United States by the people of France in 1886. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants and returning Americans traveling by ship. The copper-clad statue, dedicated on October 28, 1886, commemorates the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence and was given to the United States to represent the friendship established during the American Revolution.” Click here to download the model.
The Eiffel Tower by Gustave Eiffel, modeled by Damo
“Located on the Champ de Mars next the Seine River in Paris, the Eiffel tower is one of the World’s great iconic structures. It was named after its engineer, Gustaffe Eiffel, who had originally planned on it being constructed in Barcelona but, due to feelings at the Barcelona City Hall that it would clash with the overall architecture of the city, it ended up in its current location to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. It took 300 workers two years to assemble the 8,000-ton, tan-gray painted-iron structure from 1887 to 1889.” Click here to download the model.
All images taken from 3D Warehouse; all descriptions via 3D Warehouse or Wikipedia. For more free resources for your architectural visualizations, check out these posts:
Architizer’s Tech Directory is a database of tech tools for architects — from the latest generative design and AI to rendering and visualization, 3D modeling, project management and many more. Explore the complete library of categories here.