The utilization of physical models is a teaching strategy that has been compared to teaching based on sketching in design studios. This paper aims to determine the effectiveness of using physical models as a key instrument in first-year architecture design studios and as an alternative in cases of graphic sketching and 3D visualization deficiency. The paper adopts descriptive and analytical approaches in a specific case study, in which first-year architecture students were divided in the design studio among three different teaching strategies, namely: model-making, sketching and a blended strategy of both. Observations were validated on the basis of answers given by students to a brief questionnaire, investigating the extent to which they relied on models as supportive tools while designing and evaluating their projects. The results revealed that physical models play a significant role in the development of students’ performance throughout the entire process of project design.

物理模型的使用是一种教学策略，已与设计工作室中基于素描的教学进行了比较。本文旨在确定在第一年的建筑设计工作室中，将物理模型用作关键工具的有效性，以及在图形草图和3D可视化缺陷的情况下作为替代方案的有效性。本文在一个特定的案例研究中采用描述性和分析性方法，其中一年级建筑专业的学生在设计工作室中被分为三种不同的教学策略，即模型制作，素描和两者的混合策略。根据学生对简短问卷的回答，对观察结果进行验证，以调查他们在设计和评估项目时依赖模型作为支持工具的程度。