Lincoln Memorial & Flatiron Building: 2015 Lego Architecture Sets

2015 Lego Architecture, Lincoln Memorial (21022)

For the past few years now Lego has been releasing about 4 official Architecture sets a year, with a few special exemptions (Marina Bay Sands, The Lego House). With that in mind it has been revealed that the first new sets released in 2015 for the Lego Architecture theme will be the Lincoln Memorial and the Flatiron Building. The first new set is the Lincoln Memorial (21022) which will be built with 274 Lego pieces. Making this an extremely small build, especially compared to the previously released White House. The price point is not known yet, but should be somewhere between $19.99 and $29.99.

2015 Lego Architecture, Lincoln Memorial (21022) Box

The next new Lego Architecture set for 2015 will be the Flatiron Building (21023). This one is a lot more obscure then the Lincoln Memorial. This is a triangular skyscraper located in New York City. The Lego version does its best to replicate this building, using some funky connection techniques to achieve the weird angles. This set will include 471 Lego pieces, and should be priced somewhere between $39.99 and $49.99.

2015 Lego Architecture, Flatiron Building (21023)

Keep and eye out for these. Lego Architecture sets have a habit of sneaking onto shelves without anyone noticing. Then selling out, because they are extremely popular.

2015 Lego Architecture, Flatiron Building (21023) Box
Lincoln Memorial and Flatiron Building images from Gizmodo: http://lego.gizmodo.com/builders-building-buildings-2015-lego-architecture-set-1644322082

Lego Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang)

Anu Pehrson's Lego Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Taktsang

This Lego Tiger’s Nest Monastery (also known as Paro Taktsang, and Taktsang Palphug Monastery) is the creation of Anu Pehrson. This is an extremely accurate Lego MOC, almost every major detail from the real life inspiration is represented here. The four main temples have been expertly recreated. With the red, brown, gold, and white color palette accurately represented too. Even the windows match up with the source. The original model took over 8 months to create using 200,000 Lego pieces. This Lego Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a great example of a project that is never complete. The current model is up to version 1.2, with landscaping and prayer flags added in the previous updates.

Anu Pehrson's Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Taktsang

The original temple was built in 1692 at the location of the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave. A holy site where Guru Padmasambhava meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, and 3 hours. The temple is credited as being built by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. Today the temple is an icon in Bhutan, hosting the Tsechu festival in the Spring. Comparing the real temple to this Lego creation shows just how much detail and work went into this. Even the Lego landscaping is mostly accurate to the real life source.

Anu Pehrson's Lego Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Taktsang. Detail.

With a Lego model like this it is usually hard to appreciate the scale of the work. This is a huge display. Easily 6+ feet wide and 3+ feet tall. In fact the designer, Anu Pehrson, has posed next to her work in order for people to understand the scope of this Lego Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

Anu Pehrson's Lego Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Taktsang. Creator.

Check out all the details of Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) over on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/anupehrson/15433956257/

Sign of the Times: Failure of the Fourth Estate

Mike Doyle's Lego Sign Of The Times

“From reckless corporate consolidation of the media industry to the Presidential persecution of whistle blowers to the targeting of independent wartime journalists by our military, our system has completely failed us. The continuous stream of sensationalism feeds our addiction to drama, hyperstimulating the senses with fear and novelty. The war drums beat to the tune of our racing hearts – which rage with fury over manipulated messages driven by those in power.

Shut off the TVs – which drive us away from any meaningful existence. Ignore all mainstream messages – they are rooted in profit. Focus our thoughts and hearts to kindness, forgiveness and tolerance. The Fourth Estate will burn on its own.” — Mike Doyle

Sometimes you see something that you know will be the inspiration for many in the AFOL (Adult Fans of Lego) community. This MOC, called Sign of the Times is one of those that deserve renown. Created by Mike Doyle, Sign of the Times shows off a most impressive technique for building Lego smoke. Smoke is one of the toughest things to create out of Lego, typically the hard shapes and overall blockiness do not render the billowing clouds very well. What really sells this, is the combination of transparent pieces, and the color palette (only 8 colors!). Plus the decision to contrast the organic smoke with a very geometric building.

Mike Doyle is quickly becoming a huge name, check out Contact 1. A huge castle/city that had its  own Kickstarter campaign:  http://everydaybricks.com/contact-1/

Mike Doyle's Lego Sign Of The Times Detail

Sign of the TImes: Failure of the Fourth Estate by Mike Doyle (photographed by Matt Doyle) can be viewed over on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7931559@N08/15429701386/

The colorfully playful offices of Lego Turkey

Lego Turkey Offices

Recently Lego Turkey revealed their new office space. Completed in 2014, these offices are located in Mecidiyekoy, Istanbul. Lego has focused on creating a workspace that feels unique while accommodating 23 personnel. The space itself is only 350 m², which works out to be about 3,750 ft². The super colorful space is inspired by Lego products as a way to strengthen the brand identity. The entrance and ceiling make references to the popular Lego brick, while Minifigures have been used on walls and partitions. Photographs of the original Lego employees and manufacturing plant are also used for wall treatments.

Lego Istanbul

“In the office where a dynamic and modern design language has been adopted in general sense, it has been aimed to create venues which are integrated with the corporate identity, have high energy, and where comfort conditions are provided at a high level.” — OSO Architecture

Lego Turkey has been designed by OSO Architecture. Make sure to check out all the other photographs and information here: http://www.osomimarlik.com/eng/project-detail/lego-turkey/

Lego Turkey Office

Relax at this Lego Beach House

zaberca's Lego Beach House 2

Summer time is here and a good portion of us will be visiting the beach. Even Minifigures need to take a vacation. This MOC, built by zaberca, is titled Beach House 2. The whole thing was originally designed digitally, but when building it in person the project changed quite a bit. Which is great, because this house is impressive. The house itself is built using a lot of SNOT techniques. Make sure to check out the details on the top floor, which is built sideways compared to everything else. This helps give the structure a distinctly modern design.

The interior is fully furnished, and puts most (real) homes to shame. These Minifigs have style.

zaberca's Lego Beach House 2 Interior

Make sure to check out Beach House 2 over on Flickr, where you can view all the details: https://www.flickr.com/photos/15902478@N02/14760877455/

zaberca's Lego Beach House 2 Back

United Nations Headquarters Lego MOC

Spencer_R's United Nations Headquarters Lego MOC

Lego has done a great job with its architecture theme. One of the best models is the Lego United Nations Headquarters (21018). Some of these models are small, and have been shrunk down. The UN Headquarters is one of the most successful examples of this. Even though it is small, a good amount of detail is still present. If you have ever wondered what a Lego architecture set would look like if money and piece count didn’t matter, then this United Nations Headquarters by Spencer_R is perfect. This is a spot-on recreation of the UN Headquaters and has recently been updated with the newer trans blue pieces. The flags and adjoining park have been recreated perfectly and give this Lego MOC a sense of scale.

Spencer_R's United Nations Headquarters Lego MOC Back

Check out this Lego United Nations Headquarters, by Spencer_R, over on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51130204@N04/14021080829/

The Lego House (4000010) Special Edition Review by CopMike

CopMike Review: The Lego House 4000010 Box

Lego has a super rare set out now called The Lego House (4000010) Special Edition. The set is designed to fit in with the Architecture theme, but is not officially a part of it. What makes this a Special Edition is that it is only sold in Billund, Denmark. Which is the upcoming location of The Lego House. The set is 250 pieces and sold for 149 DKK, which is currently about $27.50.

The Lego House is currently being built in Billund, which is where the Lego Group was founded in 1932. The building will be part museum, and part educational experience (and I’m sure part gift shop).

CopMike Review: The Lego House 4000010 Box Back

CopMike has recently gotten their hands on The Lego House, and posted a full review over on Eurobricks. The set comes with a perfect-bound soft-cover instruction manual, an exclusive (boring) Minifigure, and a bunch of white and trans-clear parts. In fact, two new 1×1 trans clear flat tiles. The final set is not the most exciting, but the limited availability and exclusive Minifig help make up for the design.

CopMike Review: The Lego House 4000010

Check out the full review of The Lego House (4000010) Special Edition by CopMike over on Eurobricks: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=94889

Brickville is a Beautiful Lego SimCity

Brickville Lego City Overhead SimCity

Brickville is the closest thing to a Lego SimCity. Imagine if EA Games made a Lego themed version of SimCity. It would look like this. This micro scale city in completely modular. Usually these type of projects can look too artificial, sometimes being too constrained to a set of rules. Brickville seems to have found a way past this problem. This little city is currently 67 or so baseplates in size and is expanding.  Not only is Brickville extremely photogenic from overhead, but its profile looks almost real. The variety of the high-rises and skyscrapers help lend the project a sense of realism.

Brickville Lego City

Brickville recently made an appearance at a KLUG show. Where it was photographed by Luap31 and Jameson42. You can find more details over on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brickville/10946567563/

Brickville Lego City Display

Lego Marina Bay Sands (21021) Architecture Set Revealed!

Lego Marina Bay Sands 21021 Architecture Set

The new Lego Architecture set, the United Nations Headquarters (21018), has just been released and with it comes details about whats next. According to a Lego survey, the Marina Bay Sands (21021) is coming soon. The Marina Bay Sands is a massive casino located in Singapore. It features an extremely unique design, with a full shopping mall and massive outdoor rooftop pool. It kind of looks like someone took a cruise ship and placed it on top of three skyscrapers. Hah.

Thanks to Brickset for revealing the early details.

Lego United Nations Headquarters (21018) Reviewed @ Toys N Bricks

Brickbuilder0937's United Nations Headquarters Review 01

The newest set in the Lego Architecture theme, the United Nations Headquarters (21018) is now available
(Amazon). With 597 pieces and a $49.99 price tag this is one of the more reasonably priced Architecture sets. Over at Toys N Bricks, Brickbuilder0937 has recently posted a full pictorial review of the set. The Lego United Nations Headquarters seems to be one of the best Architectures sets with an extremely accurate (for Lego) and professional design.

The set depicts not only the U.N. tower, but the other four surrounding buildings too. By the time you complete the base, the layout of the complex is very apparent.

Brickbuilder0937's United Nations Headquarters Review 04

If you have been looking around for “1 x 2 trans light blue” bricks then this is the set to get, with 155 included. They are put to good use, creating some beautiful windows. This set also features some of the “smoothest” brick built slopes. Achieved by combining “headlight bricks” and the “1 x 1 with stud-on-one-side” bricks. These half step slopes can be seen on the smaller surrounding buildings.

Brickbuilder0937's United Nations Headquarters Review 03

The little Lego lever is a perfect representation of a flag pole, one of the best details in this set. Making the building instantly recognizable as the U.N. Headquarters. Just don’t accidentally brush up on those levers.

The whole build is quite a bit larger in person then it looks on the box. Which, is the opposite effect from most of these Architecture sets.

“In the past I was skeptical of buying the Architecture series sets because they seemed small for their price, but after seeing how accurate and profesional this model was, I was impressed.” — Brickbuilder0937

Brickbuilder0937's United Nations Headquarters Review 02

Read the full Lego United Nations review over at Toys N Bricks: http://toysnbricks.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=9403

The Lego United Nations Headquarters (21018) is available from Amazon: here.