Lego Architecture

Last updated
Lego Architecture
Lego Architecture.svg
Sub‑themesLandmark series
Architect series
Subject Buildings
Licensed from The Lego Group
Availability2008–present
Total sets66 [1]
Official website

Lego Architecture (stylized as LEGO Architecture) is a Lego theme that aims to "celebrate the past, present and future of architecture through the Lego Brick". [2] The brand includes a series of Lego sets designed by "Architectural Artist" Adam Reed Tucker, and each contain the pieces and instructions to build a model of a famous architectural building or city skyline in micro-scale.

Contents

Development

Adam Reed Tucker earned a degree in architecture at Kansas State University in 1996. [3] While there, he sought a method to join his two passions of art and architecture, and hit upon the idea of using Lego bricks. From this, he founded Brickstructures, Inc., and began to design and build models of famous landmarks. His work was noticed by the Lego Group, and together they formed a partnership to release some of his models as commercially available Lego sets under the Lego Architecture brand.

Architecture sets

According to Bricklink, The Lego Group has released 64 playsets as part of the Lego Architecture theme. [1]

Sets in the product line contain a premium booklet, that – besides the build instructions – also includes various information and pictures of the building itself.

By the beginning of 2009, six sets had been released in the range, under two 'series'. Within the 'Landmark Series' are models of the Sears Tower (21000), John Hancock Center (21001), the Empire State Building (21002), and the Space Needle (21003). Within the 'Architect Series' are models of the Guggenheim Museum (21004) and Fallingwater (21005).

In the beginning of July 2010, a seventh set, the White House (21006), was released. An eighth set (21007) was released in November 2010: New York's Rockefeller Center. The ninth set (21009), Farnsworth House (Plano, Illinois), was released in April 2011. A tenth set (21008), The Burj Khalifa, was released in June 2011. The Willis Tower (21000) was also released in 2011, this kit was a re-issue of the original Sears Tower kit; the only change was the printed tile to reflect the building's renaming.

An eleventh and twelfth set, the Robie House (21010) and the Brandenburg Gate (21011) were released in September 2011. [4] [5]

In January 2012, it was announced that the next Architecture set would be 21012 Sydney Opera House. The set was released in March 2012.

In June 2012, Big Ben (21013) was released. In July 2012, the Namdaemun Gate (renamed Sungnyemun Gate) (21016) was released. In September 2012, the Villa Savoye (21014) was released. The Eames House (21015) and Glass House were scheduled and then canceled, as it never came out as a set. The company tried to add the Eames House in again with set number (21025), but nothing could be done to put it in production.

In June 2013, the Leaning Tower of Pisa (21015) was announced for the Lego Architecture series. Its set number (21015) replaced the original Eames House after it was canceled. United Nations Headquarters (21018) came out next. In October 2013, Marina Bay Sands and the Eiffel Tower were both announced.

SetSeriesNameLocationReleasedNumber of piecesRetiredImage
21000Landmark Sears Tower [6] Flag of the United States.svg Chicago 2008692014
Willis Tower 2011 Lego Architecture 21000 - Willis Tower (7134946351).jpg
21001Landmark John Hancock Center Flag of the United States.svg Chicago 2008692012 Lego John Hancock center.jpg
21002Landmark Empire State Building Flag of the United States.svg New York City 2009772015 Lego Architecture 21002 - Empire State Building (6981132780).jpg
21003Landmark Seattle Space Needle Flag of the United States.svg Seattle 2009572016
21004Architect Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum [7] Flag of the United States.svg New York City 20092082014
21005Architect Fallingwater [7] Flag of the United States.svg Mill Run, Pennsylvania 20098112015 Lego Architecture 21005 - Fallingwater (7331205756).jpg
21006Architect The White House Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C. 20105602017
21007Architect Rockefeller Center Flag of the United States.svg New York City 20102402014
21008Landmark Burj Khalifa [8] Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai 20112082014
21009Architect Farnsworth House [9] Flag of the United States.svg Plano, Illinois 20115462015 Lego farnsworth house.jpg
21010Architect Robie House [10] Flag of the United States.svg Chicago 20112,2762014 Robie house.jpg
21011Landmark Brandenburg Gate Flag of Germany.svg Berlin 20113632016
21012Architect Sydney Opera House [11] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney 20122702015
21013Landmark Big Ben [12] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 20123462017
21014Architect Villa Savoye [13] Flag of France.svg Paris 20126602016
21015Landmark The Leaning Tower of Pisa Flag of Italy.svg Pisa 20133452016
21016Landmark Sungnyemun [14] Flag of South Korea.svg Seoul 20123252014
21017Architect Imperial Hotel [15] Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo 20131,1882016
21018Landmark United Nations Headquarters [16] Flag of the United States.svg New York City 20135972016
21019Landmark The Eiffel Tower [17] Flag of France.svg Paris 20143212019
21020Landmark Trevi Fountain [18] Flag of Italy.svg Rome 20147312017
21021 (limited edition)Landmark Marina Bay Sands Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore 20146022016 Marina Bay Sands Lego.jpg
21022Landmark Lincoln Memorial [19] Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C. 20152742017 Lego Architecture 21022 Lincoln Memorial.jpg
21023Landmark Flatiron Building Flag of the United States.svg New York City 20154712017 Lego 21023 flatiron building.jpg
21024Landmark Louvre Flag of France.svg Paris 20156952019
21026Skyline Venice Flag of Italy.svg Italy 20162122018
21027Skyline Berlin Flag of Germany.svg Germany 20162892018
21028Skyline New York City Flag of the United States.svg United States 2016598-
21029Landmark Buckingham Palace Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 20167802019 Lego Architecture 21029 Buckingham Palace.jpg
21030Landmark United States Capitol Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C. 20161,0322020
21031Landmark Burj Khalifa Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai 20163332018
21032Skyline Sydney [20] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 20173612019
21033Skyline Chicago [20] Flag of the United States.svg United States 20174442019
21034Skyline London [20] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 2017468-
21035Landmark Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Flag of the United States.svg New York City 20177442019 Lego Architecture 21035 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.jpg
21036Landmark Arc de Triomphe Flag of France.svg Paris 20173862019 Arc de triomph.jpg
21037
(Lego House exclusive)		Landmark Lego House Flag of Denmark.svg Billund, Denmark 2017774-
21038Skyline Las Vegas Flag of the United States.svg United States 2018487Replaced [lower-alpha 1]
21039Skyline Shanghai Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 20185972021
21041Landmark Great Wall of China Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 20185512020
21042Landmark Statue of Liberty Flag of the United States.svg New York City 20181,685-
21043Skyline San Francisco Flag of the United States.svg United States 20195652021
21044Skyline Paris Flag of France.svg France 2019649-
21045Landmark Trafalgar Square Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 20191,1972022
21046Landmark Empire State Building Flag of the United States.svg New York City 20191,7672022
21047Skyline Las Vegas Flag of the United States.svg United States 20185012021
21050Studio [21] —20131,2102019
21051Skyline Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg Japan 20205472022
21052Skyline Dubai Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates 20207402022
21054Landmark The White House Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C. 20201,4832023
21055 (European markets only)Landmark Burj Khalifa Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai 20193332022 [lower-alpha 2]
21056Landmark Taj Mahal Flag of India.svg Agra 20212,022-
21057Skyline [22] Singapore Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore 2022827- Lego Singapore Set.jpg
21058Landmark [23] Great Pyramid of Giza Flag of Egypt.svg Cairo 20221,476-
21060Landmark [24] Himeji Castle Flag of Japan.svg Himeji 20232,125-
  1. ↑ Due to the 2017 Mandalay Bay hotel massacre, the Mandalay Bay was replaced by Bellagio and released as set #21047.
  2. ↑ not retired in UAE
Special editions
SetNameLocationReleasedNumber of piecesComments
4000002LOM Moulding Flag of Mexico.svg Monterrey 2011174Given to employees.
4000005KOM Moulding Flag of Denmark.svg Billund, Denmark 2012315Given to employees.
Kornmarken Factory is the first and largest LEGO moulding and production factory.
4000006Kladno Campus Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Kladno 2012250Given to employees.
4000009HMV Production Flag of Denmark.svg Billund, Denmark 2013285Given to employees.
HMV is the name of the packing factory at LEGO Billund, which this set is based on.
4000010 LEGO House [25] Flag of Denmark.svg Billund, Denmark 2014250Only sold in Billund.
Lego House opened in Billund in 2017.
4000011Nyíregyháza Factory Flag of Hungary.svg Nyíregyháza 2014327Given to employees.
Lego model of the Nyíregyháza Factory.
4000015LOM Moulding B Flag of Mexico.svg Monterrey 2014215Given to employees.
Additional packing building, which expands the footprint of the existing facility.
4000016 Billund Airport Flag of Denmark.svg Billund, Denmark 2014281Only sold at Billund Airport.
This set was made for the 50th anniversary of the Airport.
4000018Kladno Campus Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Kladno 2015412Given to employees.
Kladno campus is the name of building C at the Czech Lego factory, which this set is based on.
4000023Jiaxing Factory Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 2016407Given to employees.
Set of the Lego factory in Jiaxing, China. [26] [27]
40199 Billund Airport Flag of Denmark.svg Billund, Denmark 2018286Only sold at Billund Airport.
New edition from 4000016.
4000038LEGO Campus Flag of Denmark.svg Billund, Denmark 20221,494Given to employees.
Released to celebrate the grand opening of the LEGO Campus on April 5, 2022.

Impact

The product range has been reviewed favorably by many commentators. Journalist Jenny Williams said "The scale on these kits is pretty small, though, so don't expect exquisite detail. But creating with Lego bricks is quite a fun way to pay homage to great architects". [28]

A near-exact replica of set 21006, The White House, appears in the eight story arc of the Japanese manga series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure , JoJolion, where it used by the villain character Poor Tom to activate his "stand" power, "Ozon Baby". [29] [30] [31]

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References

  1. ↑ "About Lego Architecture". Lego Group . Retrieved 29 December 2009.[ dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Brickstructures" . Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Official Announcement: 21010 Robie House, 13 July 2011, archived from the original on 22 July 2011, retrieved 11 August 2011
  4. ↑ Sarah Firsheinn (8 August 2011), Lego to Eternalize the Brandenburg Gate in Architecture Series, Curbed Network, archived from the original on 2 October 2011, retrieved 11 August 2011
  5. ↑ "Sears Tower now named Willis Tower" Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine . CNN. July 16, 2009
  6. 1 2 "Release of two Frank Lloyd Wright Collection sets from LEGO Architecture" Archived 2014-07-15 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. May 9, 2009
  7. ↑ "The world's tallest building in LEGO bricks". Lego.com. May 25, 2011
  8. ↑ "Modernist architectural icon immortalised in LEGO bricks" Archived 2012-04-22 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. April 4, 2011
  9. ↑ "Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House Joins LEGO Architecture series" Archived 2012-04-22 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. September 19, 2011
  10. ↑ "Sydney's revered opera house immortalized in LEGO bricks" Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. February 21, 2012
  11. ↑ "LEGO® Big Ben celebrates Victorian London's greatest landmark" Archived 2012-06-08 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. April 18, 2012
  12. ↑ "Le Corbusier's French masterpiece becomes a LEGO Architecture model" Archived 2012-09-07 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. August 31, 2012
  13. ↑ "A Korean landmark recreated as LEGO Architecture" Archived 2012-05-30 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. May 14, 2012
  14. ↑ "Revisit the Imperial Hotel with LEGO Architecture" Archived 2013-03-05 at the Wayback Machine . Lego.com. March 1, 2013
  15. ↑ " Archived 2014-11-02 at the Wayback Machine . BrickExtra. May 15, 2013
  16. ↑ Lego Architecture: Der Eiffelturm – das ist Spitze Ukonio.de 14 Oktober 2014
  17. ↑ BREAKING: Trevi-fontein wordt volgende Lego Architecture set Archived 2018-08-21 at the Wayback Machine Madpac.nl 13 January 2014
  18. ↑ Série LEGO Architecture incluirá o Lincoln Memorial e o Edifício Flatiron Archdaily.com
  19. 1 2 3 "Architecture | 2017" . Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  20. ↑ " Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine . Brickset. June 29, 2013
  21. ↑ "Soar into the Singapore skyline with LEGO Architecture". Brick Fanatics. 1 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "LEGO Architecture 21058 Great Pyramid of Giza officially revealed". Brick Fanatics. 10 May 2022.
  23. ↑ "21060 Himeji Castle revealed!". Brickset. 26 June 2023.
  24. ↑ Exclusive: 4000010 LEGO House Brickset.com 17 March 2014
  25. ↑ "Newsroom - About Us - LEGO.com". www.lego.com.
  26. ↑ Ruijter, Michiel de (28 November 2016). "Exclusieve LEGO 4000023 Jiaxing Factory set - Bouwsteentjes.info".
  27. ↑ Jenny Williams (23 May 2009). "Frank Lloyd Wright + Lego = Awesome". Geekdad. Wired.
  28. ↑ Araki, Hirohiko (2017). Escape from Mount Hanarero. Shueisha. ISBN   978-4-08-881443-8.
  29. ↑ Araki, Hirohiko (2018). North of the Higashikata Household. The Orchard. Shueisha. ISBN   978-4-08-881452-0.
  30. ↑ Araki, Hirohiko (2018). Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Wu Tomoki. Shueisha. ISBN   978-4-08-881596-1.
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