Andrew Melville Hall, St Andrews – Miniature Concrete Model

Model 076_Andrew Melville Hall, St Andrews – Miniature Concrete Model
Hand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.

Some student halls feel like a manifesto in concrete.
Andrew Melville Hall in St Andrews is one of them.

Built in 1967, Andrew Melville Hall was the first commission in solo practice for James Stirling and remains his only completed work in Scotland. Set on the North Haugh ridge, the hall unfolds in two angled wings stretching from a glazed central block. Its pre‑cast concrete panels with tessellated 45°‑angled textures, the sharp geometry of slab‑wings and the rhythmic sawtooth of windows combine into a building that seems both formal and alive.

I’ve always felt this building speaks of ambition: a vision to house generations of students in a place shaped for life, light and community. Sculpting this model meant carefully studying how the wings fan out from the core, how the stepped concrete masses respond to the sloping hillside, and how the glazing of the central block gives a sense of openness. I translated that into a smaller, hand‑cast form so the essence of Stirling’s design lives in your hand.

A small chunk of Scottish modernism for your shelf or desk.

Features
• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured
• 2.5cm high, 9.5cm wide, 7cm deep (approx)
• Laser-etched cork base with building name
• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift
• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK

This model is for anyone who feels drawn to bold post‑war architecture, who remembers time at St Andrews, or who simply loves the quiet strength of Brutalist geometry. It fits on a desk, a shelf or a window sill, carrying a fragment of St Andrews’ hills and student life into everyday space.

15% off when you order two or more models

EU customers: please order via my Etsy shop due to customs regulations

Building Information

Location: St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Architect: James Stirling
Completed: 1967 (constructed between 1963–1968)
Status: Category A listed; recognised as one of Scotland’s most significant post‑war buildings

Brief Overview:
Andrew Melville Hall was built as part of the University of St Andrews expansion in the 1960s and became one of the most distinctive student residences in Britain. Designed by James Stirling, the hall was arranged as two long, angled wings linked by a glazed central block, with pre‑cast concrete panels set in a bold geometric pattern. Its stepped forms, sharp profiles and rhythmic windows were shaped by the sloping site on the North Haugh and by Stirling’s interest in sculptural, expressive architecture. The building is now Category A listed and remains a landmark of Scottish Modernism, known for its ambition and its singular place in campus life.

Please note:

ALL EU ORDERS processed through our Etsy Store HERE

My 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.

Shipping:
I 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.

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