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". 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.
Development Adam Reed Tucker earned a degree in architecture at Kansas State University in 1996. 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.
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.
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.
+ Set Series Name Location Released Number of pieces Retired Image 21000 Landmark Sears Tower"Sears Tower now named Willis Tower" . CNN. July 16, 2009 Chicago 2008 69 2014 Willis Tower 201121001LandmarkJohn Hancock Center Chicago2008692012 21002LandmarkEmpire State Building New York City200977201521003LandmarkSeattle Space Needle Seattle200957201621004ArchitectSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum"Release of two Frank Lloyd Wright Collection sets from LEGO Architecture" . Lego.com. May 9, 2009 New York City2009208201421005ArchitectFallingwater Mill Run, Pennsylvania2009811201521006ArchitectThe White House Washington, D.C.2010560201721007ArchitectRockefeller Center New York City2010240201421008LandmarkBurj Khalifa"The world's tallest building in Lego bricks". Lego.com. May 25, 2011 Dubai20112082014 21009ArchitectFarnsworth House"Modernist architectural icon immortalised in Lego bricks" . Lego.com. April 4, 2011 Plano, Illinois20115462015 21010ArchitectRobie House"Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House Joins LEGO Architecture series" . Lego.com. September 19, 2011 Chicago20112,2762014 21011LandmarkBrandenburg Gate Berlin2011363201621012ArchitectSydney Opera House"Sydney's revered opera house immortalized in Lego bricks" . Lego.com. February 21, 2012 Sydney2012270201521013LandmarkBig Ben"Lego® Big Ben celebrates Victorian London's greatest landmark" . Lego.com. April 18, 2012 London2012346201721014ArchitectVilla Savoye"Le Corbusier's French masterpiece becomes a Lego Architecture model" . Lego.com. August 31, 2012 Paris2012660201621015LandmarkThe Leaning Tower of Pisa Pisa2013345201621016LandmarkSungnyemun"A Korean landmark recreated as Lego Architecture" . Lego.com. May 14, 2012 Seoul2012325201421017ArchitectImperial Hotel"Revisit the Imperial Hotel with LEGO Architecture" . Lego.com. March 1, 2013 Tokyo20131,188201621018LandmarkUnited Nations Headquarters. BrickExtra. May 15, 2013 New York City2013597201621019LandmarkThe Eiffel TowerLego Architecture: Der Eiffelturm – das ist Spitze Ukonio.de 14 Oktober 2014 Paris2014321201921020LandmarkTrevi FountainBreaking: Trevi-fontein wordt volgende Lego Architecture set Madpac.nl 13 January 2014 Rome2014731201721021 (limited edition)LandmarkMarina Bay Sands Singapore2014602201621022LandmarkLincoln MemorialSérie Lego Architecture incluirá o Lincoln Memorial e o Edifício Flatiron Archdaily.com Washington, D.C.2015274201721023LandmarkFlatiron Building New York City2015471201721024LandmarkLouvre Paris2015695201921025ArchitectEames House Los AngelesNever released21026SkylineVenice Italy2016212201821027SkylineBerlin Germany2016289201821028SkylineNew York City United States2016598202521029LandmarkBuckingham Palace London2016780201921030LandmarkUnited States Capitol Building Washington, D.C.20161,032202021031LandmarkBurj Khalifa Dubai20163332018 21032SkylineSydney Australia2017361201921033SkylineChicago United States2017444201921034SkylineLondon United Kingdom2017468-21035LandmarkSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York City2017744201921036LandmarkArc de Triomphe Paris2017386201921037(Lego House exclusive)LandmarkLego House Billund, Denmark2017774202021038SkylineLas Vegas United States2018487Replaced21039SkylineShanghai China2018597202121041LandmarkGreat Wall of China China2018551202021042LandmarkStatue of Liberty New York City20181,685-21043SkylineSan Francisco United States2019565202121044SkylineParis France2019649202521045LandmarkTrafalgar Square London20191,197202221046LandmarkEmpire State Building New York City20191,767202221047SkylineLas Vegas United States2018501202121050 Studio" . Brickset. June 29, 201320131,2102019 21051SkylineTokyo Japan2020547202221052SkylineDubai United Arab Emirates20207402022 21054LandmarkThe White House Washington, D.C.20201,483202321055 (European markets only)LandmarkBurj Khalifa Dubai2019333202221056LandmarkTaj Mahal Agra20212,022202421057SkylineSingapore Singapore2022827202421058LandmarkGreat Pyramid of Giza Cairo20221,476-21060LandmarkHimeji Castle Himeji20232,125-21061LandmarkNotre-Dame de Paris Paris20244,383- 21062LandmarkTrevi Fountain Rome20251,880-21063LandmarkNeuschwanstein Castle Germany20253,455-21064SkylineParis – City of Love Paris2025958-21065LandmarkSagrada Família Barcelona202612,060 - 21066Skyline New York City – The Big Apple New York City20261,435 -
+Special editions Set Name Location Released Number of pieces CommentsImage4000002LOM Moulding Monterrey2011174Given to employees.4000005KOM Moulding Billund, Denmark2012315Given to employees.Kornmarken Factory is the first and largest Lego moulding and production factory.4000006Kladno Campus Kladno2012250Given to employees.4000009HMV Production Billund, Denmark2013285Given to employees.HMV is the name of the packing factory at Lego Billund, which this set is based on.4000010LEGO HouseExclusive: 4000010 Lego House Brickset.com 17 March 2014 Billund, Denmark2014250Only sold at the Lego House in Billund.Lego House opened in Billund in 2017.4000011Nyíregyháza Factory Nyíregyháza2014327Given to employees.Lego model of the Nyíregyháza Factory. 4000015LOM Moulding B Monterrey2014215Given to employees.Additional packing building, which expands the footprint of the existing facility.4000016Billund Airport Billund, Denmark2014281Only sold at Billund Airport.This set was made for the 50th anniversary of the Airport.4000018Kladno Campus Kladno2015412Given to employees.Kladno campus is the name of building C at the Czech Lego factory, which this set is based on.4000023Jiaxing Factory China2016407Given to employees.Set of the Lego factory in Jiaxing, China.40199Billund Airport Billund, Denmark2018286Only sold at Billund Airport.New edition from 4000016, only 10,000 units sold, no longer available.4000038Lego Campus Billund, Denmark20221,494Given 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".
In popular media 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".
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