diff --git a/python/hsml/core/dataset_api.py b/python/hsml/core/dataset_api.py
index 27d663bb7..f6a282dfc 100644
--- a/python/hsml/core/dataset_api.py
+++ b/python/hsml/core/dataset_api.py
@@ -239,9 +239,7 @@ def download(self, path, local_path):
         ) as response:
             with open(local_path, "wb") as f:
                 downloaded = 0
-                file_size = response.headers.get("Content-Length")
-                if not file_size:
-                    print("Downloading file ...", end=" ")
+                # if not response.headers.get("Content-Length"), file is still downloading
                 for chunk in response.iter_content(
                     chunk_size=self.DEFAULT_FLOW_CHUNK_SIZE
                 ):
diff --git a/python/hsml/core/native_hdfs_api.py b/python/hsml/core/native_hdfs_api.py
index 1fc5c90ef..fadd856ea 100644
--- a/python/hsml/core/native_hdfs_api.py
+++ b/python/hsml/core/native_hdfs_api.py
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ def upload(self, local_path: str, remote_path: str):
 
     def download(self, remote_path: str, local_path: str):
         # copy from hdfs to local fs
-        print("Downloading file ...", end=" ")
         hdfs.get(remote_path, local_path)
 
     def copy(self, source_path: str, destination_path: str):
diff --git a/python/hsml/engine/model_engine.py b/python/hsml/engine/model_engine.py
index e4701217e..7e871e600 100644
--- a/python/hsml/engine/model_engine.py
+++ b/python/hsml/engine/model_engine.py
@@ -117,6 +117,59 @@ def _copy_or_move_hopsfs_model(
                 n_dirs += 1
             update_upload_progress(n_dirs=n_dirs, n_files=n_files)
 
+    def _download_model_from_hopsfs_recursive(
+        self,
+        from_hdfs_model_path: str,
+        to_local_path: str,
+        update_download_progress,
+        n_dirs,
+        n_files,
+    ):
+        """Download model files from a model path in hdfs, recursively"""
+
+        for entry in self._dataset_api.list(from_hdfs_model_path, sort_by="NAME:desc")[
+            "items"
+        ]:
+            path = entry["attributes"]["path"]
+            basename = os.path.basename(path)
+            if "." in path:
+                # we assume that if a dot is contained in the path, it's the path to a file
+                local_file_path = os.path.join(to_local_path, basename)
+                self._engine.download(path, local_file_path)
+                n_files += 1
+                update_download_progress(n_dirs=n_dirs, n_files=n_files)
+            else:
+                # otherwise, it's a folder
+                if basename == "Artifacts":
+                    continue  # skip Artifacts subfolder
+                local_folder_path = os.path.join(to_local_path, basename)
+                os.mkdir(local_folder_path)
+                n_dirs, n_files = self._download_model_from_hopsfs_recursive(
+                    from_hdfs_model_path=path,
+                    to_local_path=local_folder_path,
+                    update_download_progress=update_download_progress,
+                    n_dirs=n_dirs,
+                    n_files=n_files,
+                )
+                n_dirs += 1
+                update_download_progress(n_dirs=n_dirs, n_files=n_files)
+
+        return n_dirs, n_files
+
+    def _download_model_from_hopsfs(
+        self, from_hdfs_model_path: str, to_local_path: str, update_download_progress
+    ):
+        """Download model files from a model path in hdfs."""
+
+        n_dirs, n_files = self._download_model_from_hopsfs_recursive(
+            from_hdfs_model_path=from_hdfs_model_path,
+            to_local_path=to_local_path,
+            update_download_progress=update_download_progress,
+            n_dirs=0,
+            n_files=0,
+        )
+        update_download_progress(n_dirs=n_dirs, n_files=n_files, done=True)
+
     def _upload_local_model(
         self,
         from_local_model_path,
@@ -341,31 +394,28 @@ def download(self, model_instance):
             tempfile.gettempdir(), str(uuid.uuid4()), model_instance._name
         )
         model_version_path = model_name_path + "/" + str(model_instance._version)
-        zip_path = model_version_path + ".zip"
-        os.makedirs(model_name_path)
+        os.makedirs(model_version_path)
 
-        temp_download_dir = "/Resources" + "/" + str(uuid.uuid4())
-        try:
-            self._engine.mkdir(temp_download_dir)
-            self._dataset_api.zip(
-                model_instance.version_path,
-                destination_path=temp_download_dir,
-                block=True,
-                timeout=600,
+        def update_download_progress(n_dirs, n_files, done=False):
+            print(
+                "Downloading model artifact (%s dirs, %s files)... %s"
+                % (n_dirs, n_files, "DONE" if done else ""),
+                end="\r",
             )
-            self._engine.download(
-                temp_download_dir + "/" + str(model_instance._version) + ".zip",
-                zip_path,
+
+        try:
+            from_hdfs_model_path = model_instance.version_path
+            if from_hdfs_model_path.startswith("hdfs:/"):
+                projects_index = from_hdfs_model_path.find("/Projects", 0)
+                from_hdfs_model_path = from_hdfs_model_path[projects_index:]
+
+            self._download_model_from_hopsfs(
+                from_hdfs_model_path=from_hdfs_model_path,
+                to_local_path=model_version_path,
+                update_download_progress=update_download_progress,
             )
-            self._dataset_api.rm(temp_download_dir)
-            util.decompress(zip_path, extract_dir=model_name_path)
-            os.remove(zip_path)
         except BaseException as be:
             raise be
-        finally:
-            if os.path.exists(zip_path):
-                os.remove(zip_path)
-            self._dataset_api.rm(temp_download_dir)
 
         return model_version_path