ARC West London Architectural Model From Sugar
A 1:100 scale model of the ARC Refinery and Waterfront buildings, crafted from sugar.
Brief
On March 20th, 2025, ARC Group celebrated the grand opening of their newly refurbished Refinery Building at ARC West London—an exciting hub designed to bring together some of the UK's leading science and technology organisations.
The site itself carries a fascinating legacy. It was once home to the Manbré and Garton Saccharine Works, a pioneering sugar manufacturing company established in 1876. The company’s founder, Alex Manbré, originally came to England to scale up his innovative method of producing sugar from potato starch—an incredible story of scientific ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.
In celebration of this rich history of innovation, ARC Group planned a launch event that beautifully blended tradition and technology. The event featured a mix of sugar-inspired culinary creations alongside cutting-edge machines and interactive displays.
Creation
I was commissioned to create a 1:100 scale model of the ARC Refinery and ARC Waterfront buildings—all made from sugar.
The project took around 170 hours, using 20 kg of sugar paste, royal icing as adhesive, and granulated sugar for fine details.
This unique sugar sculpture blends architecture and artistry, celebrating both the site’s rich history and its innovative future. It was a challenging but deeply rewarding experience.
The completed piece is currently on display at the ARC Refinery in West London.
Client: Advanced Research Clusters Group
Category: PR, Food Art, Architecture
