BALFRON TOWER
Ernő Goldfinger's first tower block and the prototype for Trellick Tower, completed in 1967
THE BUILDING
Balfron Tower, standing at 26 stories tall (84 meters), is a significant brutalist residential building in Poplar, East London. Designed by architect Ernő Goldfinger and completed in 1967, it served as the prototype for his later and more famous Trellick Tower.
Like its successor, Balfron Tower features a distinctive separate service tower connected to the main building by walkways. This innovative design separates the lifts and services from the residential units, reducing noise and creating a striking architectural silhouette that has become emblematic of post-war brutalist architecture in Britain.
Goldfinger famously moved into Flat 130 on the 26th floor for two months after the building's completion to experience the living conditions firsthand and gather feedback from residents. This unusual approach demonstrated his commitment to social housing that was both functional and aesthetically significant.
SPECIFICATIONS
- ARCHITECTErnő Goldfinger
- COMPLETED1967
- HEIGHT84 meters (26 floors)
- LOCATIONPoplar, East London
- STYLEBrutalism
- HERITAGE STATUSGrade II* listed (1996)
LEGO INTERPRETATION
Our LEGO interpretation of Balfron Tower aims to capture the distinctive architectural elements that make this building a brutalist icon. The model emphasizes the relationship between the main residential tower and the separate service tower, connected by the characteristic walkways.
Using primarily light and dark gray bricks, we've recreated the textured concrete surfaces and geometric patterns of the façade. The model maintains the brutalist principle of honest expression of materials and structure, with each LEGO element serving both an aesthetic and structural purpose.
A particular focus has been placed on the distinctive top of the service tower, with its boiler room and unique silhouette, as well as the rhythmic pattern of the balconies that give the building its distinctive visual identity.
DESIGN PROCESS
The process of translating Balfron Tower into LEGO form began with extensive research into the building's history, architectural drawings, and photographs from various angles. We studied the building's proportions, structural elements, and distinctive features to determine how best to represent them using LEGO bricks.
Our approach involved creating several prototypes, each refining the representation of key elements like the service tower, connecting walkways, and the distinctive balcony pattern. The final model uses approximately 100 pieces and stands 9cm tall.
The model is designed to be viewed from multiple angles, with each perspective revealing different aspects of the building's architectural composition and its relationship to Goldfinger's later work on Trellick Tower.
