Located close to Tottenham Court Road – and almost next door to the fabulous Store Street Espresso – is the Building Centre.
Established in 1931 and set up to be an ‘independent forum dedicated to providing information and inspiration to all sectors of the built environment’, the Centre is well worth a visit, if only for its astonishing 3D scale model of central London.
Forming the centrepiece of the Building Centre is the Pipers 1:1500 scale model of the central area of London, which graphically illustrates the scope and spread of the capital.
The model is named after the company who made it, architectural modelmaking specialists Pipers, who founded in 1967 and have created some astonishing large models.
Taking over 5,000 hours to complete, the fastidiously created London model is a dynamic one, with new new models created to reflect London’s changing skyline.
Proposed or under-construction buildings are show in white, so you can get a good idea of how mahoosive the London Bridge Shard tower will be when completed.
The Olympics site in east London.
Looking east towards the City and Canary Wharf.
Visitor details:
The Building Centre is on Store Street, London, WC1E 7BT
T: +44 (0) 207 692 4000
www.buildingcentre.co.uk
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday:
9.30 am – 6.00 pm
Saturday:
10.00 am – 5.00 pm
Admission: free.
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A walk around The Crystal, the world’s largest urban sustainability centre in east London
Tottenham Court Road and Crossrail – one almighty building site
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