The impulse of the project
When I saw the intro for the Casa de Papel TV series and the 3D model displayed this way, with the moving cameras and the light effects, I thought it was a particularly remarkable way to present an architectural object and knew it would become iconic. Here’s a little reminder on that intro : Casa de Papel official intro.
Not forgetting, this is a model, but actually it’s a building that’s scaled to a model size, the Royal Mint of Spain in the way it presented in the show. As it turns out, only the exterior façade exists in real life, all the decorum we see inside the building was made in a film studio.
Anyway, at the core it’s still architecture, and I am an architect. So I started wondering : how I would make that model if I wanted to?
My final result
I thought I could do it justice better than the few models I found online, especially when it comes to the modeling of the entire building enveloppe and not only the one façade. Starting from a 2D image of the façade and a lot of visual references from the show, here’s where I got after a few days (read a few weeks) of working on it :
Final render of the Casa de Papel Royal mint model – skp then 3dsmax/Vray 
I also did the trees, and tried to get the pencil edged effect as well 
Transversal section of the building showing the relation ext/int 
Perspective view exterior on the sketchup model 
Perspective view exterior, with a few trees 
Central spiral staircase with light from above 
Corridor with the iconic staircase 
View from behind, light coming from inside the building 
Wireframe view of the whole building 
Set up in an art gallery with someone looking at the maquette of the building
I started modeling in sketchup based of a image file, a map of the building I found and lots of visual clues from the show. Very soon, it was clear that it would only be interesting if I did the entire building, with links to the the interior, and not just the exterior facade.
The final renders were made in 3dsmax / Vray once the SketchUp file was ready to import. Here’s a quick walkthrough of the 3D files I ended up making:
The 3D files (skp, 3dsmax) are available in CG trader here.
These results are far from perfect but still the most complete model of The Casa de Papel Royal Mint that I could make, still in the beginning of my journey.
In the first place, it was a perfect way to train on Sketchup considering the rather simple shapes of the model. This was my first model ever on this software.
And following are the different steps that led me to the final results.
Making of La Casa de Papel 3D model
Method Overview
This is the first time I’ll try to summarize the method that led me from the idea of modeling this particular project to a final result I could be happy with. This is what I’ll try to build upon when coming to future projects.
The modeling of this project in sketchup didn’t require any particular advanced skill in the software. The basic modeling tools were plenty enough to model this project. Still we can add a bit of method and ressource to it.
Step by step
- Setting the objective
- Making a reference image library
- Sketchup file set up: units, base image, scale
- Modeling using components and layers
- Making efficient scenes
- Final touch in Sketchup
- Importing from Sketchup into 3dsmax
- Cameras, materials, lighting
- Final renders on Vray
1. Setting the objective : making the best 3d model of the Casa de Papel Royal Mint online 
2. Making a reference image library : regrouping all visuals in one folder 
3. Sketchup file set up : units, base image, scale. Starting with the trees 
4. Modeling using components and layers 
5. Making efficient scenes to work faster 
6. Final touch in Sketchup 
7. Importing from Sketchup into 3dsmax 
8. Cameras, materials, lighting 
9. Final renders (Vray)
Conclusion
Overall, the objective was achieved comparing the final 3D model to the official one. The tricky part in this project has been in the inside spaces more so than the façade which is quite simple to draw. The real challenge was to figure out how spaces were communicating, between the great entrance and the central staircase especially.
The road from start to finish was way longer that it should have been, the steps are a framework of a method that can produce a 3D model starting from very little. Two things are for certain open for improvement : the quality of the model and the time management of the project.
Now, on to the next one.
Practical architectural lessons from this project
- Strength through Symmetry
- Regular Façade Framework
- Multiple Sources of skylights around the building
- Majestic hall entrance
Sketchup tips and tricks learned
As for the software skill building, the few teachings I’ll try to remember from the 3d modeling of this project will be those :
- Working in components
- Move / Copy with the multiplier
- Bad use of the skp import into 3dsmax
3dsmax/Vray tips and tricks learned
- Wireframe effect for renders
- Vray Lightmix is indispensable to render