Thief & the Dogs

THE THIEF AND THE DOGS

(Physical Maquette & Set Design)

This project explores the world of Said Mahran through a physical scale model of his apartment. The space was designed to reflect his psychological state after leaving prison, creating an atmosphere of isolation, poverty, tension, and emotional instability.

The maquette focuses on aged surfaces, worn furniture, distressed walls, muted colors, and simple everyday objects to create a believable lived-in environment. Lighting was also carefully considered, using narrow openings, strong shadows, and warm natural light to reinforce the dramatic mood and emphasize the character’s sense of confinement and loneliness.

Each room was individually developed and handcrafted, with attention to materials, textures, furniture, architectural details, and signs of aging to translate the set design into a detailed physical environment.

TECHNICAL PLAN

The plan was developed around a compact, low-cost apartment that reflects the character’s poor living conditions. The small rooms, simple layout, limited furniture, and narrow circulation emphasize the modest nature of the space, while camera positions and fields of view were studied to allow practical filming within the confined set.

MODEL-MAKING CHALLENGE

The maquette was built at a 1:25 scale, making the construction process particularly challenging due to its compact size. Creating the small furniture, architectural elements, textures, and fine details required precision and careful craftsmanship while maintaining realistic proportions throughout the model.

MATERIALS USED

Thin Foam Board • Recycled Cardboard • UHU Adhesive • Glue • Tissue Paper • Textured Plastic Sheets • Aged Fabric • Modeling Clay • Aluminum Foil • Wooden Toothpicks • Wooden Craft Sticks • Plastic Paints

FINAL MAQUETTE

Final photographs of the completed 1:25 scale maquette, highlighting the spatial composition, handcrafted details, aged textures, furniture, and lighting. The photographs were carefully framed to present the model from realistic viewpoints and emphasize the atmosphere of the designed space.

PHOTOGRAPHY & POST-PRODUCTION

The maquette was photographed using a Samsung S23 Ultra, with additional mobile phone flashlights used as practical light sources to shape the scene and create dramatic shadows. The final mood, color grading, and atmospheric treatment were developed in Adobe Photoshop to enhance the cinematic character of the photographs.

PROJECT CONCLUSION

This project transformed a scenographic concept into a detailed physical environment, combining spatial design, material experimentation, and handcrafted model-making. Working at a 1:25 scale strengthened the focus on precision, proportion, textures, and small details, while successfully translating the character’s social and psychological world into a tangible set.