Inspiration strikes
In the first phase of designing our display we used various methods to design the buildings, both large and small. First and foremost we used ideas and flyers from the period of the late 1950s and early 1960s lego sets. We managed to complete all the 'suggested builds' from the Town Plan set itself, as well as stand-alone add-on sets from the late 1960s.
Once we had completed these these we used ideas from life-size modernist buildings, including the old Sanitarium factory in Warburton, Victoria and the Empire State Building.
It is safe to say we have no further research material from that period to work with, there is however one Lego element we can draw from - the 1 x 8 and 1 x 6 patterned bricks with labels on them. First some research to see what is still available from that time period...
Included in dozens of sets between the late 1950s and the 1970s the 'patterned' bricks were labelled with the names of shops, retail outlets and other 'city-themed' buildings. In addition, they were available in a multitude of languages, to suit the distribution model of lego sets of the time. The bricks were released in:
Danish
Dutch
English
Flemish
French
German
Finnish
Italian
Norwegian
Portuguese
Swedish
They were available in sets sold in:
Austria
Australia
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Finland
Germany
Italy
The Netherlands
Portugal
Sweden
Switzerland
The US
The UK
They were also available in different colours and font styles. Below are some examples.
Ambulance
“Ambulance”
Translation: “Ambulance”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
Bakery (or Baker or Pastry Shop)
“Bäcker”
Translation: “Bakery”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in gold (thick text)
“Boulangerie”
Translation: “Bakery”
Country released: France
1 x 8 white brick in gold (thick, wide text)
“Koek ‘ Banket”
Translation: “Pastry Shop”
Country released: The Netherlands
1 x 6 white brick in gold (thin text)
“Bager”
Translation: “Baker”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 8 white brick in gold (thick text with pretzel icons)
“Panetteria”
Translation: “Bakery”
Country released: Italy
1 x 8 white brick in red (thick, wide text)
“Boulangerie”
Translation: “Bakery”
Country released: France
1 x 8 white brick in gold (thin slanted text)
“Koek ‘ Banket”
Translation: “Pastry Shop”
Country released: The Netherlands
1 x 6 white brick in black (thin text)
Butcher
“Slagter”
Translation: “Butcher”
Country released: Italy
1 x 8 white brick in red (cursive text)
“Slagter”
Translation: “Butcher”
Country released: Italy
1 x 8 white brick in red (with pig icon)
“Slagter”
Translation: “Butcher”
Country released: Italy
1 x 8 white brick in red (wide text with pig icon)
Cafe
“Cafe”
Translation: “Cafe”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (thin text)
“Cafe”
Translation: “Cafe”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (serif text)
“Cafe”
Translation: “Cafe”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thin text)
“Cafe”
Translation: “Cafe”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thin, wide text)
“Cafe”
Translation: “Cafe”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (serif text)
Car
“Automatiek”
Translation: “Automobile”
Country released: The Netherlands
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
Cinema
“Cinema”
Translation: “Cinema”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (thin text)
“Cinema”
Translation: “Cinema”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thin, slanted text)
“Cinema”
Translation: “Cinema”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick, slanted text)
“Kino”
Translation: “Cinema”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in black (cursive text)
“Kino”
Translation: “Cinema”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in blue (cursive text)
“Kino”
Translation: “Cinema”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in red (cursive text)
Dealer/Service/Sales
“Dealer”
Translation: “Dealer”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin text)
“Dealer”
Translation: “Dealer”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text with VW logo)
“Dealer”
Translation: “Dealer”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (serif text with VW logo)
“Car Dealer”
Translation: “Car Dealer”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick, wide text)
“Dealer”
Translation: “Dealer”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (thin, wide text)
“Dealer”
Translation: “Dealer”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (thick, wide text)
“Lego”
Translation: “Lego”
Country released: Worldwide
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick, wide text with VW logo)
“Salg”
Translation: “Sales”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick, wide text with VW logo)
“Salg”
Translation: “Sales”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin, wide text with VW logo)
“Myynti”
Translation: “Sales”
Country released: Finland
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text with VW logo)
“Forsaljning”
Translation: “Sales”
Country released: Sweden
1 x 8 white brick in blue (serif text with VW logo)
“Verkauf”
Translation: “Sales”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text with VW logo)
“Service”
Translation: “Service”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (serif text with VW logo)
ESSO Service
“ESSO Service”
Translation: “ESSO Service”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
“ESSO Service”
Translation: “ESSO Service”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin text)
“ESSO Huolto”
Translation: “ESSO Service”
Country released: Finland
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin text)
“ESSO Wagenpflege”
Translation: “ESSO Service”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin text)
“ESSO Wagenpflege”
Translation: “ESSO Service”
Country released: Finland
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
Fire Station
“Fire Station”
Translation: “Fire Station”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
“Fire Station”
Translation: “Fire Station”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thick text)
“Pompiers”
Translation: “Fire Brigade”
Country released: Italy
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
“Feuerwehr”
Translation: “Fire Department”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in red (thick text)
“Feuerwehr”
Translation: “Fire Department”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin, serif text)
“Falck”
Translation: “Emergency Services”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
“Brandweer”
Translation: “Fire Brigade”
Country released: The Netherlands
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
“Brandstation”
Translation: “Fire Station”
Country released: Sweden
1 x 8 white brick in red (bold text)
Garage
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (serif text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (thick text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (thin text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (wide text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (wide text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (wide text with VW logo)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (serif text with VW logo)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 red brick in white (serif text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
“Garage”
Translation: “Garage”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 red brick in white (serif text)
Grocery/Store
“Grocery”
Translation: “Grocery”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (thin text)
“Købmand”
Translation: “Grocery”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text)
“Købmand”
Translation: “Grocery”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
“Købmand”
Translation: “Grocery”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text)
“Specerier”
Translation: “Grocery”
Country released: Sweden
1 x 8 white brick in red (wide text)
“Drogheria”
Translation: “Grocery Store”
Country released: Italy
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
“Store”
Translation: “Store”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thin text)
“Karstadt”
Translation: “Department Store”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text)
Hotdog
“Würstchen”
Translation: “Hotdog”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in red (thick text)
“Würstchen”
Translation: “Hotdog”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in red (script text)
“Würstchen”
Translation: “Hotdog”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
“Würstchen”
Translation: “Hotdog”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in black (script text)
Hotel
“Hotel”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text)
“Hotel”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (thin text)
“Hotel”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (thick text)
“Hotel”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (curved text)
“Hotel”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thin text)
“Hotel”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (wide text)
“Albergo”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Italy
1 x 6 white brick in red (thick text)
Ice cream
“Hotell”
Translation: “Hotel”
Country released: Sweden
1 x 6 white brick in blue (thick text)
“Vers Schepijs”
Translation: “Ice cream”
Country released: The Netherlands
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick, serif text)
“Ice cream”
Translation: “Ice cream”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick, serif text)
“Mejeri”
Translation: “Dairy”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 6 white brick in black (serif text)
Kiosk
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text, style 2)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thick text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (serif text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (serif text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in gold (serif text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (serif text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (thin text)
“Kiosk”
Translation: “Kiosk”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (thick text)
Museum
“City Museum”
Translation: “City Museum”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (thick text with border)
Phillips
“Phillips”
Translation: “Phillips”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (thick text with logo)
“Phillips”
Translation: “Phillips”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text with logo)
Police
“Police”
Translation: “Police”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
Post
“Post”
Translation: “Post”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (thin, slanted text)
“Post”
Translation: “Post”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (thick text)
“Post”
Translation: “Post”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (thick, serif text)
“Post”
Translation: “Post”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (thin text with letter and horn icons)
“Poste”
Translation: “Post”
Country released: French
1 x 6 white brick in red (thick text)
“Posterijen”
Translation: “Post”
Country released: The Netherlands
1 x 6 white brick in red (thick text)
Restaurant
“Restaurant”
Translation: “Restaurant”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin text)
“Restaurant”
Translation: “Restaurant”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (serif text)
“Restaurant”
Translation: “Restaurant”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (wide text)
Shell
“Shell”
Translation: “Shell”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text with two logos)
“Shell”
Translation: “Shell”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (wide text)
Snack Bar
“Snack Bar”
Translation: “Snack Bar”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thick text)
“Snack Bar”
Translation: “Snack Bar”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in blue (serif text)
“Snack Bar”
Translation: “Snack Bar”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
Station/Railway Station
“Station”
Translation: “Station”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
“Station”
Translation: “Station”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin, slanted text)
“Station”
Translation: “Station”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
“Banegård”
Translation: “Station”
Country released: Danish
1 x 8 white brick in blue (thin text)
“Gare”
Translation: “Station”
Country released: France
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
“Bahnhof”
Translation: “Railway Station”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in black (wide text)
“Bahnhof”
Translation: “Railway Station”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in black (serif text)
Taxi
“Taxi”
Translation: “Taxi”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thin text)
“Store”
Translation: “Store”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
“Taxi’s”
Translation: “Taxi’s”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
“Taxe”
Translation: “Taxi”
Country released: France
1 x 6 white brick in blue (serif text)
“Taxe”
Translation: “Taxi”
Country released: France
1 x 6 white brick in black (wide, serif text)
“Taxe”
Translation: “Taxi”
Country released: France
1 x 6 white brick in black (serif text)
“Taxa”
Translation: “Taxi”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 6 white brick in black (serif text)
“Taxa”
Translation: “Taxi”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 6 white brick in black (wide, serif text)
“Taksi”
Translation: “Taxi”
Country released: Portugal
1 x 6 white brick in black (wide, serif text)
Theatre/Grand Theatre
“Grand Theatre”
Translation: “Grand Theatre”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
“Grand Theatre”
Translation: “Grand Theatre”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (serif text)
“Theatre”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in red (thin text)
“Theatre”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 8 white brick in black (serif text)
“Theatre”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (thin text)
“Theatre”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Australia/Canada/UK/US
1 x 6 white brick in red (wide, serif text)
“Teater”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Norway
1 x 6 white brick in red (cursive text)
“Teater”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Norway
1 x 6 white brick in blue (cursive text)
“Teater”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Norway
1 x 6 white brick in black (cursive text)
“Teatro”
Translation: “Theatre”
Country released: Italy
1 x 6 white brick in black (serif text)
Tobacco
“Cigaretten”
Translation: “The cigarette”
Country released: Denmark
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
“Sigaretten”
Translation: “Cigarettes”
Country released: The Netherlands
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick, serif text)
“Tabak”
Translation: “Tobacco”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in black (thick, serif text)
“Tabak”
Translation: “Tobacco”
Country released: Germany
1 x 8 white brick in black (thick, wide text)
“Tabak”
Translation: “Tobacco”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick, wide text)
“Tabak”
Translation: “Tobacco”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick, serif text)
“Tabak”
Translation: “Tobacco”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in blue (thick, serif text)
“Tabak”
Translation: “Tobacco”
Country released: Germany
1 x 6 white brick in red (thick, serif text)
“Tabac”
Translation: “Tobacco”
Country released: France
1 x 6 white brick in black (thick text)
Using these bricks as inspiration we can design some buildings that fit with the names on them. So far we have buildings with the following (in English):
Cafe
Esso service
Fire station
Garage
Hospital
Hotel
Kiosk
Police
Post
Shell
Taxi
VW dealer
So we have the following to work with:
Ambulance
Bakery
Butcher
Car
Cinema
Grocery/Store
Hotdogs
Ice-cream
Museum
Phillips
Restaurant
Snack Bar
Station/Railway Station*
Store
Theatre
Tobacco*
*We’re going to cross off the “Tobacco” option from our list. While this was commonplace in the 1960s, the world has moved on and it’s no longer appropriate to have that ‘advertising’ a product in 2018. We’ll also cross off the “Station/Railway Station”. That was included in railway sets released after the Town Plan set in the mid-1960s. Given we have no railway or mass transit vehicles in our display we’ll give that one a miss too.
We’re also happy with using bricks in other languages - it might be fun to include them and see if our viewers can translate them. We like the idea of finding a real-life modernist library or museum to reproduce in Lego. So let’s start with the “Museum” idea..
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