Forton Services, with its distinctive hexagonal tower and futuristic viewing deck, has been a landmark on the M6 since the 1960s – and now, it’s a “Brutalist Miniature”, the creation of Birmingham-based Spaceplay, a specialist model maker run by Adam Carthy.
Known officially as the Pennine Tower, Forton Services was designed to give travellers panoramic views over Lancashire and the fells beyond as a rare moment of architectural ambition in motorway service design.
“Some buildings make the journey as memorable as the destination,” says Brutalist architecture fan Adam, who founded Spaceplay in 2015. “I’ve always loved how unexpected it feels.
“Capturing the tower’s unusual geometry in miniature was an engineering challenge, ensuring the silhouette stayed true. It’s playful and purposeful at the same time, and I wanted the model to hold both qualities.”
Hand cast in fine concrete, “shaped by memory”, the Forton Services Miniature Concrete Model is available here, and is one of Spaceplay’s best-selling models.
Brutalist buildings have a way of imprinting themselves on us. Now, thanks to Spaceplay, who also do commissions, you can bring them home.
Working with a small, dedicated team, Adam has created models of several distinctive Brutalist buildings around the country, such as Preston’s Bus Station, London’s Barbican Centre and National Theatre, the Central Hall at the University of York, and internationally renowned buildings such as Japan’s Okinawa Prefectural Museum.
Each model in Spaceplay’s growing collection is hand-cast in concrete and made with care as a detailed tribute to the weight, rhythm and raw beauty of these iconic structures. Whether you’re an architect, collector, or simply drawn to concrete, these pieces are made to be held, displayed, and treasured.
“Brutalist architecture is bold, raw, and unforgettable,” Adam enthuses. “Made with materials like concrete, steel, and brick, Brutalism emerged in the mid-20th century as a radical answer to post-war reconstruction. Its striking buildings are often large-scale housing estates, public buildings, and civic centres that speak of a time when architecture was designed to serve society.
“My passion for Brutalism has led me to creating cast-concrete Brutalist miniatures as a personal and tactile way to collect the places that formed our memories.”
• The Forton Services Miniature Concrete Model is available here from Spaceplay