Status

• The design for this project commenced at the start of July 2024.
• Mid-July 2024, the initial digital design was completed, and awaiting parts.
• August 2024, parts are collated, and getting ready to display.
• On display at Together Culture (5 Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, CB1 1ER) from 06-Sep-2024.
• Starting stage 2: How can I populate the interiors of the building?

Statistics

• Build and Design Time: ~40 hours.
• Physical Size (W x H x D): 39cm x 38cm x 13 cm.
• Part Count: 2,048 parts (1,175 unique pieces).
  • Total Cost of Parts¹: £246.45.

Background

17 Fitzroy Street, in Cambridge, UK, was original designed by R. Frank Atkinson, built in 1903 for Laurie and McConnal, a large department store. This business remained at the location until it closed in 1977. A lot of great information about their time in this building has been researched and shared by Mike Petty in this post on the Fenland History on Facebook group.

The following businesses have occupied this building since the closure of Laurie’s:

• Habitat (1982² to 2007³)
• HaGA (a few months in 2008⁴)
• Clement Joscelyne⁵ (2010 to 2012⁶)
• HMV⁷ (2012 to 2016)
• Wilko (2016⁸ to 2023⁹)

The building was designated a listed building in August 2008, cited as a good example of a department store from its originating era, late 19th century and early 20th century.

Why?

This model is my first building made out of Lego bricks, and I am using the experience to help inform the business on establishing a commissions service.

A model of a building with history like this is great for conversations. Different people visited the building at different times, and are able to share their own unique memories and curiosities. A few of the interesting aspects that are coming through so far:

• How has the front entrance changed? There appears to have been a significant change to the storefront when Wilko was coming in. Some people don’t remember so much window space.
• Is this building an example of classic revival architecture? I know very little with regards to architecture and design, so a lot for me to personally learn about. Perhaps the references I’ve found will help fill the gaps, but I wonder how much of the intentions and thinking has been lost (naturally) by now.

Footnotes

1. The cost of buying the required parts from the LEGO® Pick a Brick service on 29-Aug-2024. The cost of the build might vary as time progresses, and this information is provided only as a guide. ↩︎
2. https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2659957 ↩︎
3. https://www.cambridge2000.com/cambridge2000/html/0009/P9282634.html ↩︎
4. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/939817, https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1023469, and https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1077554 ↩︎
5. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-clement-joscelyne-furniture-shop-fitzroy-street-cambridge-england-35206822.html ↩︎
6. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00109170/filing-history ↩︎
7. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4813161, and https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4919687 ↩︎
8. https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/property/former-cambridge-hmv-store-fitzroy-11989174
   ↩︎
9. https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/job/2K/35038 ↩︎