Known online as “Tiny Cork,” Sean had been making models for years as a hobby, but since he started to create detailed miniature Cork buildings, he has attracted attention from people in the city, Cork Beo reports. 

Sean uses materials such as plastic, foam, paper and cardboard to recreate the Cork buildings.

Sean said: “[N]ow that I live in the middle of Cork City, it just sort of happened that I ended up looking around and seeing so many nice buildings that I was like, ‘I wonder if I could give this a go?’”

During the early stages, Sean made the Cork buildings for himself, but then he shared some of his miniature buildings online, which prompted a more significant reaction than he predicted. 

Sean commented: “The Reddit feedback was just enormously popular.”

“I was amazed at how much this stuff I built for Cork went mad for the first couple of models I made.” 

The process behind his creations involves photographing the real building in thorough detail and then creating a 3D model of the building using his iPad, so that he can get the right proportions and measurements. 

The completed models are not 3D printed; rather, Sean turns his digital designs into 2D templates, which he cuts out and then assembles into the miniature building. After the model is built, it is then painted by hand. 

Tiny Cork is now open to commissioned work. Prices for a bespoke miniature start at €800, with Sean creating models based on buildings selected by customers.