In photos: model buildings, taps, pipes, buttons and more – a trip to the Building Centre in London

Founded in 1931 as the building materials bureau of the Architectural Association, The Building Centre can now be found in Store Street in central London, and after a recent extensive refurbishment, I went along to take another look.

Running until the 28th Jan 2022 is the ‘Shaping Space – Architectural Models Revealed’ exhibition which, as its name suggests, highlights the craft of model making.

They say:

Architectural models are as old as architecture itself.

 

The exhibition explores the history of models, and highlights the renaissance of craft and the values of making today, alongside the rise of new technologies that mark how the digital age is changing our experience of and access to architectural space.

Set models for the stop-motion animation films Save Ralph and Flaws by Arch Models Studio featured in the Shaping Space exhibition.

The Centre also has a basement zone for exhibitions, as well as areas for showcasing building technology.

I was rather taken with this selection of intercoms, which were all working – so you could entertain yourself calling yourself up.  Which I did, obvs.

On the first floor you can browse more building tech. I had no idea what most of these things did, but it was fun looking around

The centre once hosted a huge 3D map of London, but that can now be seen at King’s Cross Coal Drops Yard until 31st Dec 2022.

Venue info

The Building Centre is open to the public six days a week and all exhibitions are free to enter.

The Building Centre
26 Store Street
London WC1E 7BT

Get directions

Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 6.00pm
Sat: 10.00am – 4:00pm*
Sun: Closed

Transport

The Building Centre is within walking distance of several mainline railway stations. Euston (15 mins), King’s Cross / St Pancras (25 mins), Charing Cross (23 mins).

Nearest underground stations are Goodge Street (Northern Line) Tottenham Court Road (Northern and Central Lines), Euston Square (Circle, District and Metropolitan Lines), Russell Square (Piccadilly Line) and Warren Street (Victoria Line).

The Building Centre is well served by bus routes from all directions. For details of the most appropriate route for your journey visit www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner

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