Brick by Brick

A LEGO® brick history of Exeter
18 June to 11 Sept 2022

Background
Display of nine LEGO® brick models by Warren Elsmore featuring different points in Exeter’s history, accompanied by a case of objects from the museum’s collection. Children’s playzones and trails offer hand-on activities for children of all ages.

Brief
Create bespoke cases and plinths for the nine LEGO® brick models. Design a space that encourages children to investigate the models and not just head to the section where they can play with the LEGO® bricks. Get visitors to think about what they want from the city of the future.

The models are: Prehistoric Exeter, Roman Exeter, Medieval Exeter, Tudor Exeter, 18th Century Quay, Victorian Exeter, Exeter during the Second World War, Modern Exeter and Exeter in the near future.

Requirements
Design and build tabletop stations where young visitors can build their own LEGO® models and display their recent creations. Create Soft play area for toddlers. Allow for a Doodle wall where LEGO® base plates let visitors create messages and images.

Offer ear protectors for those who need a quieter, calmer experience
Other elements to include: Trails to encourage children to examine the models closely.
Museum case displaying objects from each of the time periods depicted in the models
Include a display case to show the models from the winners of a Competition for schools

Approach
The concept for the look and feel of the gallery was being surrounded by giant LEGO® bricks falling from the sky. Gallery layout and design of the console-style cases allow visitors to see the models from every angle.

Big bold graphic towers link the panel text to the models through simple colour coding. Colour scheme is based on actual LEGO® brick colours.

Challenges
Models are small and the gallery is large, but there are a lot of individual areas with different functions to balance and fit into the space. Fill the gallery, bringing focus to the models and make content digestible to wide range of audiences – including wall space excite young audience. How to fill the bare wall space with something dramatic, but within budget?

Solutions
Dimensions of the acrylic case hoods were calculated so that they nest inside each other for compact storage after the exhibition. Bespoke case plinth bases feature a unique design that allows wheelchair users to get close to the models by utilising a capital H shape footprint. This also used less wood than a standard four sided box structure. Bases were held together with Playwood joints which enhances the theme of playful construction and required less in-house build work.

Acrylic LEGO® brick shapes used as both wall decoration and signage.