For Smijo, big is small – Reality Bytes – Deccan Chronicle
Owning a home of your own is a dream of a lifetime. But ask those who have strived to make their dream a reality and they are bound to say, “It was a struggle, indeed.” Either the drawings the architect churned out were too complicated to comprehend or the plan was not their idea of a home — a situation that can spell disaster and leave you with no option but live with your half-baked dream. That is all passé, according to Smijo Jose, one of the first professional model makers in the State. The Kochi-based youngster can create a picture-perfect and precise model of any structure just by looking at the drawings. “It’s a technique that combines art with architecture,” smiles Smijo, a native of Thrissur, who tripped on the world of miniature models while pursuing a degree in civil engineering. With a flair for churning out both high-rises and cute little cottages, Smijo soon became a star among his friends. He has once even done a miniature Taj Mahal. When his passion took the better of him, he quit his studies to do something more productive. “I wanted to channelise my abilities into something more useful,” says Smijo who didn’t waste time stepping into the world of reality. A model he did for Trichur Builders for one of their apartment projects 10 years ago won him accolades and ever since there’s been no looking back for the young talented lad who has completed nearly 200 odd models for various projects in the State till date.
“It’s a technique that combines art with architecture”
From resorts and apartments to high-tech cities and other architectural marvels, Smijo has done it all at his home in Kaloor, Kochi. “Once a project is floated, the concerned architect hands over the drawings to me and then it’s a quick study on the elevation, floor plan and site plan,” he says. The rest is left to Smijo’s creativity wherein a variety of materials ranging from plastic sheets, vinyl stickers and fibreglass come into play. The finished product is given a striking effect with a spray of emulsion paint.
“Normally, I scale down the size and do it on a 1:100 size,” explains Smijo who has worked with many builders such as SFS, Joy Alukkas, MiR Realtors, SRK, Jomer, Asset Homes and Alhind Builders to name a few.
He is all excited as he talks of the model he did for Hilite City recently, a project at Thondiyadu Bypass Road in Calicut. “The model, consisting of a mall, residential apartments and a 100m flyover that leads to an office space, was a challenging one,” explains Smijo. For the project located on hilly terrain, he even replicated the sloping landscape perfectly, though it took three months to complete it.
Another feather in his cap was the model he created for the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. Some of his commendable works include those he created for the upcoming Rajagiri Medical College at Kochi, Sree Krishna Kendra, a 100-acre project coming up at Thrissur, and a 250-villa project for RAAGAM, the Malayali Association in Bangalore. Smijo has worked with many prominent architects including Lalichan Zacharia, Sony Mathai and K.C. George. He has helped architect Kochuthommen in various projects including the Bishop’s House at Ranni and the luxury resort at Kumbalani, which is nearing completion. A perfectionist, who does all the work singlehandedly, Smijo says some models are time-consuming and takes months together while some have been done in a jiffy. “For instance, the model of the main block of the renovated Kannur railway station just took two days.” Ask the youngster the benefits of having a model before the actual construction and he points to a finished model of an apartment encased in fibreglass that’s ready for despatch. “A plan or a drawing can be deceptive in many ways, but no one can tamper with a true model that replicates every single feature promised by the builder,” signs off Smijo,
