A close-up look at a ridiculously detailed scale model of Toronto
Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, a former investor and a member of a famously wealthy German-Dutch retail family, has poured roughly $2 million of his own money into a project he’s dubbed “Our Home and Miniature Land.” He and his business partner, a former FedEx manager and master modeller named David MacLean, plan to build miniature versions of not only Toronto, but also Hamilton, Niagara, and the Welland Canal—all of which will eventually be open for visits by the public.
In an industrial unit near the city’s western edge, the dizzyingly detailed scale model has quietly been taking shape. There are no off-the-shelf kits for the CN Tower, TD Centre, Scotia Plaza, or any of Toronto’s buildings, so for the past 18 months, a dedicated team of model builders has been making each structure to order: first sketching it in 3D on a computer, then breaking it down into small pieces and fabricating it on a laser cutter out of sheets of balsa, plywood, styrene, or acrylic.
The entire model will be moved to a different and more accessible location before Our Home and Miniature Land’s expected opening in 2017. In the meantime, here’s a look at how it’s shaping up.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/toronto-scale-model-jean-louis-brenninkmeijer/&title=A close-up look at a ridiculously detailed scale model of Toronto&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/our-home-and-miniature-land-street-scene.jpg&description=Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, a former investor and a member of a famously wealthy German-Dutch retail family, has poured roughly $2 million of his own money into a project he's dubbed "Our Home and Miniature Land." He and his business partner, a former FedEx manager and master modeller named David MacLean, plan to build miniature versions of not only Toronto, but also Hamilton, Niagara, and the Welland Canal—all of which will eventually be open for visits by the public.
In an industrial unit near the city's western edge, the dizzyingly detailed scale model has quietly been taking shape. There are no off-the-shelf kits for the CN Tower, TD Centre, Scotia Plaza, or any of Toronto’s buildings, so for the past 18 months, a dedicated team of model builders has been making each structure to order: first sketching it in 3D on a computer, then breaking it down into small pieces and fabricating it on a laser cutter out of sheets of balsa, plywood, styrene, or acrylic.
The entire model will be moved to a different and more accessible location before Our Home and Miniature Land's expected opening in 2017. In the meantime, here's a look at how it's shaping up.
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Why?
Same reason why people pay hundreds/thousands of dollars of hard earned money to go see a concert or a sports game or burn it in cigarettes or drink it away.
Because he can.
Plus he’s fascinated with miniatures.
Why the hell not?
This is amazing!!!
Reminds me of Canadia, except a lot better done.
Needs more traffic congestion then it will be perfect
Needs more back-to-back-to-back-to-back streetcars. Realism people!
It is a hobby but he has it open to educate kids — the educational aspect — incoming school field trips perhaps — so it’s not like that he’s the only one to benefit from it. Don’t you like that goal?
Please can you call it the Skydome again..
Make sure the automobiles have only one person in them. Have them parked next to a coffee shop, blocking traffic.
Whenever I come back to Toronto the CN Tower always makes me smile.
With drivers texting.
Sign me up for a visit!! ;-)
Where are the pan handler and squeegee kids?
Looks like the miniature cars don’t move at all, so that should cover it.
Couldn’t really tell from the photos – is it HO scale or N scale?
Still can’t afford a house there
Both. Some of the larger buildings (like the CN Tower) are N scale, but much of the rest is HO.
Needs bikes riding on the sidewalk and in-between cars. Maybe add one running a red light.
Does not need more stupid city councillors. It has too many already. That is why traffic congestion is so bad. Toronto is like New York run by blithering idiotic Canadians. Fifty years behind on subway plans, too many streetcars, not one councillor understands this. Just make it more difficult for drivers and do not provied any alternative transit. Toronto, The Big Stupid!
They have a term for this! It is called streetcar “BUNCHING”. It is a serious problem.
2 different scales? that’s a shame. We should have aimed for something more in line with the panorama in Queens. http://www.queensmuseum.org/2013/10/panorama-of-the-city-of-new-york
Love it. I love Toronto. Check out my book about Toronto http://www.RidingTheRocket.ca
The ACC needs a removable carpet so it can be set up for the Toronto Rock as well.
I’m a Damn Yankee, (at least that’s what the only rude Canadian I ever met called me) been there about 2 dozen times and will come back to see this. pretty cool.
Maybe replace the city hall old one ?
IT’s very nice but not ridiculously detailed, I’ve seen a lot more with a loot more detail down to the stains on the road from tires.
I can’t believe no one has said this yet: “What is this? city for ants??”
Fantastic project. I wonder how long it will be before someone scans photos or a flyover of the city and then 3D prints it in a few hours for $100?
And don’t forget to capture those especially magic moments of single-occupant drivers trying to make a left-turn at an intersection during the restricted busy hours (which are clearly signposted) — holding up streetcars and throngs of commuters behind them. It’s a glorious slice of Toronto living!
https://www.facebook.com/MiniaturWunderlandHamburg?ref=ts&fref=ts
I realize the model doesn’t include Etobicoke, but perhaps a little crack house could be added with a little painted Rob Ford in front of it. For nostalgia’s sake. Then visiting students could be tasked with finding him like Waldo.
This project should be on permanent display at old city hall – a great start for a Toronto/ Ontario/ Canada/ World museum.