Meccano
|
Meccano is a toy for children of all ages that allows them to construct models and mechanical devices. A Meccano set usually comprises reusable, perforated metal or plastic strips, plates, axles and wheels which can be bolted together in various configurations.
The Meccano system was created in 1898 by Frank Hornby who originally called the toy ‘Mechanics Made Easy’. It is thought the name Meccano derives from ‘make and know’.
Originally manufactured in Liverpool, Hornby later set up manufacturing centres in France, Spain and Argentina. The Meccano brand was acquired in 2013 by Spin Master, a Canadian toy maker.
Despite its age, Meccano is still highly regarded as a toy that can foster creative thinking and manual dexterity, and can be an indicator of a child’s future interest in architecture, construction and engineering. It is believed that Nicholas Grimshaw's early interest in design and construction became apparent, in part, through his love of making models out of Meccano.
In 2009, James May, the then Top Gear presenter, along with student engineers, used Meccano to build a bridge spanning the 40-foot wide canal at the Pier Head in Liverpool. The bridge used 100,000 pieces of Meccano and took more than 1,000 people-hours to build.
In 2015, Engineering students from Queen's University Belfast created a 100-foot footbridge across Belfast's Clarendon Dock made from Meccano. The bridge was part of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Northern Ireland’s “This is Civil Engineering” campaign, which highlighted innovative projects that improve the quality of life in local communities.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.