The Inspiration

I am incredibly proud to present my very first project for the BDP! I've always wanted to create a building that steps away from the classic "modular" format by integrating a courtyard and a real outdoor parking area. For the colors and the overall vibe, I drew heavy inspiration from the typical hardware stores found in small towns across the USA. As a construction engineer in real life, this project is also a nice nod to my daily professional life.

The Design Process and Architecture

I love working with non-rectilinear shapes, as it makes creations much more realistic. Therefore, I designed an angled facade that breaks the usual linearity of standard brick buildings.

The "Zero Sticker" Sign: Being personally anti-stickers, I made the deliberate choice not to use any! I stuck entirely to existing printed parts. This constraint pushed me to design the store's sign from scratch: a large brick-built crossed hammer and wrench. Its function is immediately understandable, without the need for any text.
The Industrial Roof: Its design is reminiscent of early 20th-century industrial factories. I really wanted the roof to offer building techniques just as rich and engaging as the lower floors, rather than being a mere formality to assemble.

A Detail-Rich Interior

The Ground Floor (The Shop): This features a complete hardware store. The floor pattern was carefully designed with angled walkways, and the construction of the shelves was thought out to be a fun and engaging build. You'll find a multitude of tools and even mannequins showing off the latest in construction workwear!
The Back Workshop: A small warehouse area houses a cutting workshop with a table saw and various types of wood, ready for your next project.
The Upper Floor (The Showroom): I imagined this space as an interior designer's office, hard at work planning the design of your future home. It features a color swatch panel and numerous samples: flooring (hardwood, tiles), wallpapers, windows, and even roofing textures.

The Courtyard and Vehicles

The exterior captures the busy daily life of a hardware store, where local artisans and construction companies come to get their supplies.

The Van: A classic white and blue utility vehicle, perfect for the local tradesman.
The Green Truck (The Engineer's Touch!): This flatbed truck features a functional articulated crane arm that can lift heavy loads and place them directly into its bed. This is an extremely common type of machinery on real construction sites, and I hadn't seen a faithful reproduction of it in the brick world yet. I just had to include it!

Conclusion

I designed this set to be an exciting building experience from the ground up to the roof, featuring varied techniques and great playability. I hope you will have as much fun discovering it as I had designing my very first MOC!