Miniature Icons: Bristol’s diverse architecture

Bristol is a city of contrasts, where history and innovation intertwine in every corner. Its homes, from vibrant Victorian terraces to pioneering modern designs, tell the story of its people, industries, and enduring character. At Made:Small, we’ve created a series of miniature scale models celebrating five iconic Bristol homes. Each represents a chapter of the city's architectural and cultural history.

Totterdown Escarpment

Totterdown Escarpment’s colourful houses mark the approach to Bristol by train from the South West and are visible from across the city centre.

• Built in the late 19th century for railway workers, the area is a legacy of the Victorian-era industrial revolution.

• Richmond Street (the inspiration for this model) was the first row constructed, and reveals evidence of rushed building after the original builders went bankrupt!

• The history of the colourful houses may stem from maritime tradition, with sailors painting homes for visibility in fog—common in port cities worldwide.

• Another theory credits former mayor George Ferguson and friends with saving a Cliftonwood house from demolition in the 1970s by painting it red, inspiring neighbours to follow suit.

  
  

Sea Mills

Sea Mills is Bristol’s finest example of post-WWI municipal housing, built between 1919 and 1931.

• A Garden Suburb, it showcases Ebenezer Howard and Raymond Unwin’s vision of planned, detached housing.

• Inspired by the Garden City movement, it aimed to counter overcrowded and unhealthy urban living.

• Garden Suburbs were designed to provide better living standards for working-class and lower-paid residents.

• Some houses feature innovative steel-framed ‘Dorlonco’ designs, addressing material shortages after the war.

• The house modelled is in the Arts and Crafts style, initially popular in the mid-19th century in reaction to the Industrial Revolution and reinvigorated after WWI.

Cornwallis Crescent

Cornwallis Crescent, built between 1791 and 1827, is a Grade II* Georgian architectural landmark in Clifton

• It was originally called the Lower Crescent and planned to rival the famous crescents of Bath

• Construction stalled due to a late-18th-century building crisis, resuming in the 19th century with design alterations caused by the establishment of a right of way

• The crescent is crafted in mid-Georgian style with brick construction, limestone ashlar façades, and distinctive slate mansard roofs

• Residents historically shared communal gardens, a typical Georgian feature of town planning, designed to allow residents to exercise, socialise, and enjoy the stunning views of South Bristol

Bedminster

Bedminster pre-dates Bristol, originally a prosperous township clustering around its parish church; it was part of Somerset until 1831, with a history deeply connected to the industrial revolution.

• The area’s coalfields, opened from the 1670s, transformed Bedminster into an industrial powerhouse.

• Between 1801 and 1884, the population surged from 3,000 to 78,000 as workers flocked to meet Bristol’s growing industrial demands.

• By the early 20th century, Bedminster peaked in population and prosperity before its heavy industries began to decline.

• Bedminster retains its unique dialect, humour, and distinct community spirit.

• The model depicts a typical Edwardian mid-terrace home, a hallmark of Bedminster’s dense urban housing.

Kingsdown

Kingsdown began developing in the 18th century; however, the area now known as High Kingsdown was heavily bombed in WWII and fell into disrepair, leading to demolition proposals in 1957.

• Initial redevelopment plans for 16-storey slab blocks faced public opposition, prompting a policy shift to lower-rise housing in the late 1960s.

• Inspired by Danish housing projects, High Kingsdown features “L”-shaped units grouped around courtyards, blending traditional Danish, Chinese, and Islamic influences.

• Designed by Anthony Mackay, the scheme prioritised human-scale architecture and community spaces.

• The development received multiple awards, showcasing its innovative and people-centred urban design.

Each of these homes captures a distinct slice of Bristol's vibrant history, offering a glimpse into the city's evolving identity. At Made:Small, we’ve worked to encapsulate the details and stories behind these buildings, transforming them into beautiful scale models that celebrate the character and charm of Bristol’s architecture.

Which of these homes resonates most with you? Share your thoughts, or let us know if there’s an iconic building you’d love to see brought to life as a miniature!