Lego Architecture
| File:Lego Architecture logo.png | |
| Sub‑themes | Landmark Series Architect Series Discovery Series |
|---|---|
| Subject | Buildings |
| Availability | 2008–Present |
| Total sets | 12 |
| Official website | |
Lego Architecture is a sub-brand and product range of the Lego construction toy, which aims to “celebrate the past, present and future of architecture through the Lego Brick”.[1] 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 in micro-scale.
Development
Adam Reed Tucker earned a degree in Architecture at Kansas State University in 1996.[2] Whilst 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.
Sets
By the beginning of 2010, 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 Seattle 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. An eleventh and twelfth set, the Robie House (21010) and the Brandenburg Gate (21011), will be released in September 2011.[3][4]
Possible future Lego Architecture sets
Chrysler Building, Aon Center (Chicago), Trump Tower (Chicago) and One World Trade Center (the Freedom Tower) are being considered.
Impact
The product range has been reviewed favourably 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".[5]
References
- ^ "About Lego Architecture". Lego Group. Retrieved 29 December 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Brickstructures". Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ Official Announcement: 21010 Robie House, 13 July 2011
- ^ Sarah Firsheinn (8 August 2011), Lego to Eternalize the Brandenburg Gate in Architecture Series, Curbed Network
- ^ Jenny Williams (23 May 2009). "Frank Lloyd Wright + Lego = Awesome". Geekdad. Wired.
