Users were invited to enter their address using a form on the website. We used this address information to obtain satellite imagery of the home, and -where possible- side elevations of the property as well. These images were then used to generate architectural computer models of the properties. The models were then converted into virtual 3D models of each home, which were fed to a large-scale industrial 3d printer.

Once printed, the completed models were then mounted onto a machined plastic base, fixed to a perspex dome, filled with water and sealed. Our completed, personalised snow globes were then posted out to our lucky winners.

The campaign was designed as a one-off project to raise awareness of our partner charity and create something beautiful and memorable for participants lucky enough to have their home rendered inside a globe. At present we don’t have any plans to launch a further iteration, but the campaign served as an excellent proof of concept and demonstration that delightful, tactile representations of people’s actual homes could be created using digital tools and information that is freely available online.

We hope that the project serves as an example of what can be achieved by tying together existing technologies in interesting, innovative and fresh way.