Hollings Building, Manchester - Concrete Brutalism, Brutalist Architecture Model: Mini 019

Model 019_Hollings Building – Miniature Concrete Model
Hand-cast in fine concrete. Shaped by memory.

Some buildings carry a nickname that sticks for generations. The Hollings Building in Manchester is better known as the “Toast Rack”. A Brutalist icon whose curved concrete frame and vertical fins made it one of the city’s most recognisable post-war structures. Built as part of a domestic science college in the 1960s, it’s both sculptural and strange, full of character and clarity.

This model was all about the rhythm. Capturing the curvature, the blade-like ribs, the tension between weight and lightness. It took time to get the proportions feeling right at this scale. It had to feel tactile and architectural at once.

A small cast of one of Manchester’s most beloved Brutalist silhouettes.

Features
• Solid cast concrete, individually hand-poured
• 5cm high, 9cm wide, 3.5cm deep (approx)
• Laser-etched cork base with building name
• Comes gift-boxed for the perfect concrete gift
• Designed, modelled, and finished in the UK

Made for those who knew it from daily life, passed it on the bus, or just love its unapologetic design.

This model holds a piece of Manchester’s architectural story as a quirky, bold, and unforgettable object.

*****15% off when you order two or more models*****

Building Information

Location: Manchester, UK
Architect: Leonard Cecil Howitt
Completed: 1960
Status: Grade II listed, currently disused
Brief Overview:
The Hollings Building, affectionately known as the “Toast Rack,” was built to house Manchester Metropolitan University’s Domestic Science College. Its unique curved frame and striking vertical elements made it a standout example of playful Brutalism. Though no longer in use, it remains one of the UK’s most distinctive modernist buildings.



Please note:
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.