{"title":"Eastern European Brutalism","description":"\u003cp\u003eEastern European Brutalism in concrete: Genex Tower, Hotel Forum, Koospol, Hotel Panorama and Romanita, hand-cast in Birmingham.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"genex-tower-belgrade-miniature-concrete-model","title":"Genex Tower, Belgrade","description":"\u003ch2 data-end=\"305\" data-start=\"196\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-end=\"276\" data-start=\"234\"\u003eGenex Tower, Belgrade - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"255\" data-start=\"196\"\u003eMiniature Concrete Model 001\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"276\" data-start=\"234\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"326\" data-start=\"279\"\u003eHand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"727\" data-start=\"328\"\u003eSome buildings seem to belong to another world entirely. The Genex Tower in Belgrade is one of the most surreal and unforgettable pieces of late 20th-century architecture. Twin towers joined by a two-storey bridge, crowned with a circular observation deck. It’s equal parts Brutalist statement and science-fiction dream. Built as a gateway to the city, it still dominates the skyline decades later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1030\" data-start=\"729\"\u003eThis model was a challenge in balance. The vertical weight of the twin shafts had to sit perfectly with the delicate connection of the bridge and the roundness of the top. Shrinking that into a handheld scale model meant working through careful proportions and fine detail until the silhouette felt right, while also being strong enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1098\" data-start=\"1032\"\u003eA small cast of one of the most extraordinary towers in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1282\" data-start=\"1072\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1084\" data-start=\"1072\"\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"1087\" data-start=\"1084\"\u003e• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured\u003cbr\u003e• 9\u003cspan\u003ecm high, 6cm wide, 4cm deep (approx)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"1141\" data-start=\"1138\"\u003e• Laser-etched cork base with building name\u003cbr data-end=\"1187\" data-start=\"1184\"\u003e• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift\u003cbr data-end=\"1238\" data-start=\"1235\"\u003e• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1282\" data-start=\"1072\"\u003eMade for those who’ve seen it rise above Belgrade’s skyline, explored its base, or admired it from afar as a unique work of architectural imagination.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"1473\" data-start=\"1470\"\u003eThis model is a tribute to a building that feels both futuristic and deeply rooted in its time as a concrete monument to ambition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"1534\" data-start=\"1491\"\u003e15% off when you order two or more models\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"1620\" data-start=\"1542\"\u003eEU customers: please order via my \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Genex Tower - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/1041613452\/genex-tower-miniature-concrete\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEtsy shop\u003c\/a\u003e due to customs regulations\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1282\" data-start=\"1072\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-end=\"1803\" data-start=\"1779\"\u003eBuilding Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2367\" data-start=\"1805\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1777\" data-start=\"1764\"\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Belgrade, Serbia\u003cbr data-end=\"1797\" data-start=\"1794\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1811\" data-start=\"1797\"\u003eArchitect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mihajlo Mitrović\u003cbr data-end=\"1831\" data-start=\"1828\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1845\" data-start=\"1831\"\u003eCompleted:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1977\u003cbr data-end=\"1853\" data-start=\"1850\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1864\" data-start=\"1853\"\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Still standing, mixed use\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"1893\" data-start=\"1890\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"1912\" data-start=\"1893\"\u003eBrief Overview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"1915\" data-start=\"1912\"\u003eThe Genex Tower, also known as the Western City Gate, is a 35-storey Brutalist skyscraper complex in Belgrade. Its twin towers, linked by a two-storey bridge and topped with a circular observation deck, were designed to symbolise the city’s openness and modernity. Today, it remains one of the most striking and unconventional high-rises in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eALL EU ORDERS \u003c\/strong\u003eprocessed through our Etsy Store\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Genex Tower - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/1041613452\/genex-tower-miniature-concrete\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHERE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy concrete sculptures are individually hand cast in solid concrete. This means that each piece will have distinctive markings and minor blemishes due to air bubbles in the concrete. This is a natural part of the material and will mean that no two pieces are ever exactly the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI aim to make and ship your artwork within 30 days. If you require your order by a specific date before this please let me know.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan color=\"#000000\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif\"\u003e\u003cspan size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpress shipping options at checkout for additional costs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spaceplay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41062817595501,"sku":"MINI_025","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0248\/2867\/4157\/files\/01-25-Genex.webp?v=1780947697"},{"product_id":"hotel-panorama-slovakia-miniature-concrete-model","title":"Hotel Panorama, Štrbské Pleso","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"305\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"255\"\u003eHotel Panorama, Štrbské Pleso - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"255\"\u003eMiniature Concrete Model 052_\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"255\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"289\" data-end=\"336\"\u003eHand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"535\" data-start=\"249\"\u003eSome buildings become symbols beyond their walls. Hotel Panorama in Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia was designed by Zdeněk Řihák and completed around 1970. Rising above the High Tatras, its bold, stacked concrete massing and sculptural geometry made it a landmark of Czechoslovak modernism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1030\" data-start=\"537\"\u003eFor many, it’s known as more than architecture. The building appeared on the cover of \u003cem data-end=\"633\" data-start=\"625\"\u003eEtazhi\u003c\/em\u003e (2018), the breakthrough second album by Belarusian post-punk \/ cold wave band Molchat Doma. This brought the hotel international cult status among fans of cold wave, synth-pop, post-punk and darker electronic subcultures. Through this association it became an icon in the visual language of music scenes that embrace starkness, nostalgia, and the uncanny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1335\" data-start=\"1032\"\u003eI approached this model knowing that dual legacy matters — its architectural presence and its musical myth. The silhouette, the alignment of windows, the concrete π-like stagger of forms: each detail was refined so the miniature holds both the physical weight and the aura fans see in the cover art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1394\" data-start=\"1337\"\u003eA small cast of a place where stone and sound collided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1084\"\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1084\" data-end=\"1087\"\u003e• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured\u003cbr\u003e• 5.5\u003cspan\u003ecm high, 8.5cm wide, 4.5cm deep (approx)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1138\" data-end=\"1141\"\u003e• Laser-etched cork base with building name\u003cbr data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1187\"\u003e• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift\u003cbr data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1238\"\u003e• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003eMade for those who visited the hotel in person, discovered it through a record cover, or feel something when architecture appears in music. This model captures that blend of place, memory, and image—holding the mood of \u003cem data-end=\"1845\" data-start=\"1837\"\u003eEtazhi\u003c\/em\u003e as much as the structure itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1491\" data-end=\"1534\"\u003e15% off when you order two or more models\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1542\" data-end=\"1620\"\u003eEU customers: please order via my \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Hotel Panorama - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/1786056145\/hotel-panorama-miniature-concrete\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEtsy shop\u003c\/a\u003e due to customs regulations\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1803\"\u003eBuilding Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"2367\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1698\" data-end=\"1711\"\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Štrbské Pleso, High Tatras, Slovakia\u003cbr data-start=\"1748\" data-end=\"1751\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1765\"\u003eArchitect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zdeněk Řihák\u003cbr data-start=\"1778\" data-end=\"1781\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1781\" data-end=\"1795\"\u003eCompleted:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1970\u003cbr data-start=\"1800\" data-end=\"1803\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1803\" data-end=\"1814\"\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Still in use as a hotel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1838\" data-end=\"1841\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1841\" data-end=\"1860\"\u003eBrief Overview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1860\" data-end=\"1863\"\u003eHotel Panorama was designed as a modernist resort tower in the High Tatras, combining Brutalist strength with a form inspired by the mountains around it. Its distinctive sloping façade and dramatic outline made it a celebrated piece of Slovak architecture. Today it remains one of the most recognisable high-altitude hotels in Europe and a symbol of Czechoslovak post-war design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eALL EU ORDERS \u003c\/strong\u003eprocessed through our Etsy Store\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Hotel Panorama - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/1786056145\/hotel-panorama-miniature-concrete\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHERE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy concrete sculptures are individually hand cast in solid concrete. This means that each piece will have distinctive markings and minor blemishes due to air bubbles in the concrete. This is a natural part of the material and will mean that no two pieces are ever exactly the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI aim to make and ship your artwork within 30 days.  If you require your order by a specific date before this please let me know. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan color=\"#000000\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif\"\u003e\u003cspan size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpress shipping options at checkout for additional costs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spaceplay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41800873050221,"sku":"MINI_052","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0248\/2867\/4157\/files\/01-52-HOTELPANORAMA.webp?v=1780947080"},{"product_id":"hotel-forum-krakow-miniature-concrete-model","title":"Hotel Forum, Kraków","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"305\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHotel Forum, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-e2970e26-7fff-5ff9-fd1a-07645956742a\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKraków, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003ePoland - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMiniature Concrete Model 080\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"336\" data-start=\"289\"\u003eHand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"290\" data-start=\"287\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"337\" data-start=\"290\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"153\" data-end=\"387\"\u003eSome buildings refuse to blend in. Hotel Forum on the Vistula riverfront is one of Kraków’s most imposing late-modern landmarks, a piece of Polish Brutalism that still dominates the waterline. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"758\"\u003eDesigned by Janusz Ingarden and developed through the 1970s, the project was created as a major, state-era hotel in a prime position near Wawel Castle. The design has that unmistakable Forum silhouette: a long, heavy slab lifted above the ground on massive supports, curving along the river like a concrete ship coming into dock. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"1249\"\u003eConstruction began in 1978 and the hotel finally opened in 1988, after a decade shaped by the economic crisis of the 1980s. It operated as a hotel until 2002, and since then its life has shifted into a patchwork of temporary uses and cultural activity. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Recently, its exterior was added to the register of historic monuments, recognising its architectural significance even as its future use continues to evolve. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1649\"\u003eI love Hotel Forum for the way it plays with weight and suspension. Capturing that sense of hover in concrete took time. I iterated the stance again and again so the raised body, the deep underside, and the long curve still read clearly at miniature scale. The goal was to keep the building’s mood intact: severe, futuristic, and strangely elegant when the light hits those repetitive window bands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1651\" data-end=\"1728\"\u003eA small cast of a Kraków icon, made to hold a bigger story of place and time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1084\"\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1084\" data-end=\"1087\"\u003e• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured\u003cbr\u003e• 3\u003cspan\u003ecm high, 10cm wide, 5cm deep (approx)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1138\" data-end=\"1141\"\u003e• Laser-etched cork base with building name\u003cbr data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1187\"\u003e• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift\u003cbr data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1238\"\u003e• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1730\" data-start=\"1548\"\u003eThis is for architects, urban explorers, Polish modernism fans, and anyone who carries Kraków memories, river walks, nights out, student years, a first trip, a last trip. It sits on a desk or shelf like a quiet landmark, bringing that Vistula curve back into view whenever you need it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1491\" data-end=\"1534\"\u003e15% off when you order two or more models\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1542\" data-end=\"1620\"\u003eEU customers: please order via my \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Hotel Forum - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/4449417590\/hotel-forum-kracow-miniature-concrete\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEtsy shop\u003c\/a\u003e due to customs regulations\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1803\"\u003eBuilding Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2926\" data-start=\"2418\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2431\" data-start=\"2418\"\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kraków, Poland\u003cbr data-end=\"2548\" data-start=\"2545\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2562\" data-start=\"2548\"\u003eArchitect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Janusz Ingarden\u003cbr data-end=\"2631\" data-start=\"2628\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2645\" data-start=\"2631\"\u003eCompleted:\u003c\/strong\u003e Opened 1988\u003cbr data-end=\"2753\" data-start=\"2750\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2764\" data-start=\"2753\"\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Former hotel, closed 2002; register of historic monuments \u003cspan data-state=\"closed\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3515\" data-start=\"2928\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2947\" data-start=\"2928\"\u003eBrief Overview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"2950\" data-start=\"2947\"\u003eHotel Forum was planned as a flagship, late-communist era hotel for Kraków, positioned dramatically on a bend in the Vistula. Its defining move is structural and theatrical at once: a long, curved accommodation block lifted above ground level, creating an undercroft and a powerful horizontal presence on the skyline. Over time, the building has shifted from hospitality to a more improvised second life, while continuing to stand as one of the clearest expressions of Polish late modernism and Brutalist massing in the city.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eALL EU ORDERS \u003c\/strong\u003eprocessed through our Etsy Store\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Hotel Forum - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/4449417590\/hotel-forum-kracow-miniature-concrete\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHERE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy concrete sculptures are individually hand cast in solid concrete. This means that each piece will have distinctive markings and minor blemishes due to air bubbles in the concrete. This is a natural part of the material and will mean that no two pieces are ever exactly the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI aim to make and ship your artwork within 30 days. If you require your order by a specific date before this please let me know.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan color=\"#000000\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif\"\u003e\u003cspan size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpress shipping options at checkout for additional costs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spaceplay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55434630496632,"sku":"MINI_080","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0248\/2867\/4157\/files\/80-_HOTEL_FORUM-Brutalist-concrete-model.webp?v=1780915569"},{"product_id":"koospol-building-praha-miniature-concrete-model","title":"Koospol Building, Prague","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"196\" data-end=\"305\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKoospol Building, Prague - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMiniature Concrete Model 081\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"336\" data-start=\"289\"\u003eHand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"290\" data-start=\"287\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"337\" data-start=\"290\"\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"133\" data-end=\"262\"\u003eSome buildings look like they are hovering, refusing the ground. The Koospol Building in Prague does that with real confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"811\"\u003eBuilt in 1975–1977 on Evropská Street in Prague 6, this striking Brutalist office complex was designed by Stanislav Franc, Vladimír Fencl and Jan Nováček for Koospol, a Czechoslovak foreign trade enterprise. It is now known as The CUBE, and the nickname suits it: a solid upper volume that appears to levitate above a broad horizontal base, surrounded by ramps, terraces, stair runs and an arrival bridge that turns an office entrance into something almost cinematic. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"813\" data-end=\"1189\"\u003eI love how it balances weight and lightness. Modelling it meant chasing that exact stance: the lifted block, the deep shadow beneath, and the way the approach sequence wraps around the building. I worked through iterations to keep the “hover” feeling at miniature scale, so when you turn it in your hand, it still reads as a confident concrete object suspended over landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1258\"\u003eA small cast of a Prague landmark that still looks like the future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1084\"\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1084\" data-end=\"1087\"\u003e• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured\u003cbr\u003e• 4.5\u003cspan\u003ecm high, 10cm wide, 4.5cm deep (approx)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"1138\" data-end=\"1141\"\u003e• Laser-etched cork base with building name\u003cbr data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1187\"\u003e• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift\u003cbr data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1238\"\u003e• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1730\" data-start=\"1548\"\u003eThis model is for architects, Prague explorers, and anyone drawn to the best of socialist-era modernism. It sits beautifully on a desk or shelf, bringing back the feeling of rounding that hovering cube on the way out towards the airport, or the first time you noticed how well concrete can sit in green space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1491\" data-end=\"1534\"\u003e15% off when you order two or more models\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1542\" data-end=\"1620\"\u003eEU customers: please order via my \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Koospol - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/4463503607\/koospol-building-prague-miniature\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEtsy shop\u003c\/a\u003e due to customs regulations\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1282\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1803\"\u003eBuilding Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1981\" data-end=\"2348\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1981\" data-end=\"1994\"\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evropská, Vokovice, Prague 6, Czech Republic \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2077\" data-end=\"2080\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2080\" data-end=\"2094\"\u003eArchitect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stanislav Franc, Vladimír Fencl, Jan Nováček \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2177\" data-end=\"2180\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2180\" data-end=\"2194\"\u003eCompleted:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1977 \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2240\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2240\" data-end=\"2251\"\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e In use as offices, renamed The CUBE (CUBE Office Center) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2350\" data-end=\"2369\"\u003eBrief Overview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"2369\" data-end=\"2372\"\u003eOriginally built for Koospol, the building became one of Prague’s most distinctive Brutalist office forms: an upper administrative block lifted above a lower base, with an integrated system of ramps, terraces and bridges that choreographs movement around the site. After later refurbishment and rebranding as The CUBE, it has remained in continual use, and is often cited as a standout example of Prague’s late modern architecture. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eALL EU ORDERS \u003c\/strong\u003eprocessed through our Etsy Store\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Koospol - miniature concrete model\" href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/4463503607\/koospol-building-prague-miniature\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHERE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy concrete sculptures are individually hand cast in solid concrete. This means that each piece will have distinctive markings and minor blemishes due to air bubbles in the concrete. This is a natural part of the material and will mean that no two pieces are ever exactly the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI aim to make and ship your artwork within 30 days. If you require your order by a specific date before this please let me know.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan color=\"#000000\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif\"\u003e\u003cspan size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpress shipping options at checkout for additional costs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spaceplay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55478693167480,"sku":"MINI_081","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0248\/2867\/4157\/files\/Koospol_Building-concrete-brutalist-model_Prague.webp?v=1780915426"},{"product_id":"romanita-collective-housing-tower-chisinau-miniature-concrete-model","title":"Romanita Collective Housing Tower, Chișinău","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRomanita Collective Housing Tower, Chișinău \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMiniature Concrete Model 087\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eHand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eSome buildings seem to belong to a future imagined decades ago. The Romanita Collective Housing Tower in Chișinău, Moldova, is one of the most extraordinary residential buildings of the late Soviet period. Designed by architect Oleg Vronski and completed in 1986, its slender cylindrical core is surrounded by stacked rings of projecting balconies, giving the tower a form that feels both mechanical and organic. Originally conceived as collective housing, Romanita has become an unmistakable symbol of Chișinău and a cult favourite among admirers of Soviet modernism.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis model was about capturing that remarkable repetition. The circular plan, tightly stacked floors, and projecting balcony rings give Romanita a complexity that changes depending on where you stand. I worked through the proportions carefully so that its distinctive silhouette and vertical rhythm remained clear at miniature scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small cast of one of Eastern Europe's most unforgettable residential towers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured\u003cbr\u003e• 9\u003cspan\u003ecm high, 4.5cm wide, 4.5cm deep (approx)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• Laser-etched cork base with building name\u003cbr\u003e• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift\u003cbr\u003e• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade for architects, Brutalism enthusiasts, admirers of Soviet modernism, and anyone with a connection to Chișinău or Moldova. On a desk, shelf, or studio wall, it becomes a small reminder of a building whose unusual form has made it impossible to forget.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e15% off when you order two or more models\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cem\u003eEU customers: please order via my \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/4555397806\/romanita-collective-housing-tower-chiinu\" title=\"Romanita- miniature concrete model\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEtsy shop\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/4545432481\/brunswick-centre-london-concrete\" title=\"Brunswick- miniature concrete model\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e due to customs regulations\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBuilding Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chișinău, Moldova\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArchitect:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oleg Vronski\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompleted:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1986\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Residential, still in use\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Overview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRomanita was conceived during the Soviet period as a collective housing building, with compact apartments arranged around a cylindrical core. Its distinctive circular balconies create the stacked, almost floral profile that gave the tower its name, derived from the Romanian word for chamomile. Built during the final years of the Soviet Union, it has since become one of Moldova's best-known examples of late modernist architecture and an enduring landmark on the Chișinău skyline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eALL EU ORDERS \u003c\/strong\u003eprocessed through our Etsy Store \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/uk\/listing\/4555397806\/romanita-collective-housing-tower-chiinu\" title=\"Romanita - miniature concrete model\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHERE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy concrete models are made to order and individually hand-cast in solid concrete. This means that each piece will have distinctive markings and textures from the curing process in the concrete. This is a natural part of the material and will mean that no two pieces are ever exactly the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModels are all made to order and I aim to make and ship your order within 30 days. If you require your order by a specific date before this please let me know.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan color=\"#000000\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif\"\u003e\u003cspan size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUK Express processing options are available at checkout for additional costs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spaceplay","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55626840899960,"sku":"MINI_087","price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0248\/2867\/4157\/files\/RomanitaCollectiveHousingTower_Chi_inau_1.webp?v=1786664951"}],"url":"https:\/\/space-play.co.uk\/collections\/eastern-european-brutalism.oembed","provider":"Spaceplay","version":"1.0","type":"link"}